This S.O.B. System - Chapter 112

“You reek of sex,” Abby said. 

“I smell like cherries,” Atalanta retorted. 

“Cherries and sex then,” she said. Atalanta rolled her eyes. She knew the Saiyan was jealous. They had arrived on the planet close together and immediately started looking around. There had been no monsters so far, but plenty of wildlife. She was a little worried it was like the 2nd trial they took in her Roktai trial, but it was a different planet. 

“Where are we going?” Atalanta asked. 

“I thought you were leading!” Abby yelled angrily. “You’re the higher level.”

“By 1 level,” Atalanta said. Looking around she wasn’t quite sure where to go. “There is something…” She felt the need to move forward. Walking around a tree they saw a clearing with a stone shack at the center. 

“That’s not good,” Abby said. Atalanta agreed. They cautiously stepped out through the thick brush. Abby walked around the hut but came back to the open maw. 

“What is it?” Atty asked. 

“You literally know as much as I do,” Abby spat. “Sleeping with that idiot made you dumber.”

“I’m gonna kill you and blame it on aliens,” Atty warned. The other girl chuckled but left it at that. They had bonded a little on the ship and the time together gave them their own repertoire to express their hate for one another. Since Atalanta had started spending time with Asher and Tiff they hadn’t had a chance to hate on the other. They were making up for lost time. 

“I’ll go down,” Abby said. 

“I don’t know, I think I should,” Atty said. “I feel this almost, draw to it.”

Abby gave her a weird look but instead of debating, she stepped inside. “Hey!” Atalanta said trying to follow. She was stopped from entering by an invisible force.  

“What the hell,” she said. It was eerily like the 2nd trial in the Roktai trial.  

“What?” Abby asked, turning around. 

“It says I can’t go in,” Atty says. “Says you’re challenging a Hall.”

Abby looked at the stone walls. Then shrugging her shoulders she said, “you snooze you lose. Make sure to wait for me.”

“Fuck that,” Atty yelled. “You can go die down there.”

“Listen, I have no idea what’s going on. Probably a sub-Trial or something. Asher asked us to stick together. So just wait for me, alright?” Abby asked. Atalanta rolled her eyes but eventually nodded. “Good, I’ll try to make it quick.” She then started heading down the stairs. 

It didn’t take long for Atalanta to get bored. No longer feeling the draw to the door she looked around. She started feeling a pull from another direction. Atalanta chided herself and decided to stay. She could hang out for at least a little bit, her ADHD wasn’t as bad as it used to be. She tapped her foot until she got bored again. 

Heading toward the new mysterious pull she decided to fly in and check it out, then fly back. Pushing off the ground with mana she moved quickly through the trees. It was only a few miles away when she came across another hut. 

Doubtful that Abby was anywhere close to done, Atty decided to check it out. Heading down into the dark she turned her 1s and 0s skill on. The blackness of the staircase glowed green as the pattern of the staircase appeared to her. Simple stone stairs, she continued to head down until she came to a small door. 

Stepping in it looked like a martial arts dojo. 

—-

‘What do you think?’ Ria sent to him. They were separated, but with her Binding skill they could stay in touch. 

‘I think it’s worth a shot,’ Bishop sent back. ‘I’m sure that headstrong son of ours is already checking one out,’ he sent. He heard his wife laughing in his head. As one they walked down 2 separate stone shack stairs. 

Bishop pulled Holy Mana to his hand. The dark path was illuminated. The stairs simply kept going so he slowly jogged down. 

At the door he opened it slowly, releasing his mana as he stepped on the rice panels. 

‘I’m at the Hall of Life,’ he sent to his wife. 

‘I’m at the Hall of Holy,’ his wife sent. ‘What should we do?’ 

Bishop thought about it. He was much stronger than he used to be. He was so proud of all his wife and son had accomplished, and if this helped either of them he would take the risk. 

‘We do it,’ he sent. 

‘For Ash,’ she agreed. They stepped as one into their halls. 

—-

Vincent headed toward the pull. He came to the clearing only to see 1 of the demons already staring at the staircase. The demon was shorter with a great sword at his back. He had pitch black skin and gray hair. Vincent used Identification on him. 

Demon

Level 35

As Vincent stepped into the clearing the demon turned. His red eyes focused on him. 

“I see, a human. I did not recognize your scent,” the demon said in a hiss. His sharp teeth made Vincent shiver. Despite Ria’s words, every nerve in Vincent said to kill the thing. The opponents stared at one another. The shorter demon pulled the greatsword from his back. 

Vincent lifted his Buster Sword. It has gone through a few evolutions since he got it. The thick steel was now red and jagged instead of the silver hunk of metal it started as. 

“How should we settle this?” Vincent asked. 

“Simple fight. To the death?” The demon asked. 

“I was told to refrain from killing, but no promises,” he admitted. 

“Works for me. I am Azhonymus,” the black demon said. 

“Vincent,” he said back with a nod. 

With that the fight began. Azhonymous let out a battle shout that made Vincent freeze for a split second. Then the demon was running at him. Vincent began circulating mana through his body as their swords struck. The demon’s blade was thinner but had the same strength behind it. 

They exchanged blows. Kicking up the dead leaves and twigs at their feet. Moving around the clearing no one had the upper hand. Then the enemies sword began to flow with mana, Vincent cursed as he started pouring it into his own. 

Using his new skill, Powerstrike, he felt the difference in skill levels. Pushed black with blow after blow Vincent jumped back and cast Lightning. The mana formed instantly and shot at the warrior. He barely dodged out of the way, but his feet were caught in a wave of ice, tripping him. 

Vincent jumped forward and smacked the demon across the face with the flat side of his blade. The demon hit the ground hard and his body bounced back up from the force. 

He was knocked out, but not dead. Breathing in and out heavily he twirled around as the gauge for his barrier dropped to nothing. His thick blade smacked the ambusher across their hip. They flew through the air and disappeared before hitting the ground. 

Vincent used Mana Sight to keep an eye on them, but they ran away. It had been one of the clones, a rogue he guessed. Casting barrier again the screen shined around his body then turned invisible. Asher and Keera were right, the materia was pretty awesome. 

He looked at the demon. There was a gash in his head, but he appeared alive. Turning back to the staircase into the earth he was done waiting. It was calling to him as he stepped in the darkness. 

Casting fire, a small flame appeared in his hand lighting his way. When he came to the door he was met with a notification. 

He hoped Ming was doing well. 

—-

Ming used Lightstep to jump from treetop to treetop. The mana called for her. When she was close to the nearest pool of mana she stopped on a small branch. Her weight hardly moved the twig as she looked down to the ground. There was a clearing and right above the mana was a staircase. 

Not seeing a trap she jumped and soared the 100 feet until landing next to it. Slowly inspecting it she didn’t have a reason to not check it out. 

Once down the stairs and through the door she was met with the notifications. 

—-

Keera poured her mana in front of her. The screen showed a birdseye view of the area. Raising it up and up she eventually found a few of them. 

“That looks like it’s to the Southeast of us,” Nadir said. “Where I’m feeling the pull.”

“I’m feeling it too,” she admitted. “But I’m also feeling it to one far away,” she said pointing to the Southwest of them. 

They studied the picture in front of them. There was only the green leaves and the gray huts in view. “I hate to say it, but…” Nadir said. 

“Yeah. Let’s split up,” she said. “I’ll go to the other one I feel.”

“You are sure you will be ok?” Nadir asked. 

“Hey, you’re not the only one with illusions,” she said. The first time around she had been too nervous to do more than hide behind them. Now she was a little more confident. She had some more powerful mana pistols, and her new Sonicboom technique. Nadir chuckled. 

“Stay safe,” he said. “Let’s meet back here if nothing happens.”

She nodded. Pushing mana around her she disappeared from anyone outside of her skill. The screens bent the light around her, skipping her completely. Heading in the direction of the other hut she began to play on her phone. 

There was so much to edit. She already had over 48 hours worth of videos. The majority of it was explanations from Tyranis and the other crew on the Helion. Also Isyant made up a big chunk with his training about mana. Then of course there was Tosh and his explanations. 

Her cheeks blushed with the thought of him. She had harbored a crush on him since meeting him. She was living the otaku dream falling for an Isekai and an elf all at once. What most surprised her was he reciprocated the affection. 

At first he had talked about his life and family back on Earth, but eventually she got to hear about his true life. The one on Elantontrin. He made the entire risk of death and fear worth it all. 

Lost in her thoughts she didn’t realize how close she was to the hut until she was in front of it. She had passed quite a few, but this is the one that drew her in. Looking around no one had seen her. She stepped in casting a screen that showed a white light. Her path became visible. Heading down the stairs the pull of the mana only got stronger. As she stepped through the door she got the message. 

——

Carl expelled mana disappearing into the shadows. His foe was a tall demon. He wore black plate armor, but underneath he could see the pale white skin. The milky white eyes had no pupils, making him look dead. 

“At least tell me your name human,” the demon said. “I am Raus.”

“I’m Batman,” Carl said.  The demon nodded as he drew his long black sword. Darkness swirled around him as his armor clanked. 

“Let us see whose darkness is stronger,” the demon hissed as a black blanket escaped from him to lay at his feet. 

Carl did the same. Stepping into his own shadow he cast his Shadowbolts. The bat like dark bolts struck the demon in the armor but bounced off. The plated demon’s blade became sheathed in darkness. He yelled slashing at him, the black mana shot out of the sword at him. 

Batman drew his sword as he parried the slash. Both appeared to understand this wouldn’t be a fight of darkness. They glided near invisibly to one another. Their shadows acting to hide their movements. 

Their black blades struck one another. Batman circulated as much mana as he could as his blade parried and tried to catch the demon off guard. They both began to sweat as the battle wore on. 

From an outside spectator it would have appeared that 2 shadows pushed against one another. Moving around the clearing neither had the upper hand. 

Batman noticed it too late as the demon only used one hand. The other became shrouded in shadow. The darkness took the shape of a shield. As the demon spun it struck him with the shield. Knocked back a step the demon lunged forward with his blade striking Batman through the abdomen. 

His health dropped by 30. Through gritted teeth Batman Sparta kicked the other man away. He fell back a few feet, but the darkness below him kept him anchored to the ground. They breathed heavily staring at one another. 

“To the death? Or will you yield and find another doorway?” Raus asked. 

Batman was tempted to say to the death, but Ria’s words stuck out to him. He wasn’t there to kill, Batman didn’t kill. “I will yield,” he admitted. The demon received the first strike, and it was rightfully his. Pushing mana to his feet the shadows glided him back to outside the clearing. The pale demon nodded and without another look turned and headed down into the stone hut. 

Cursing, Batman began looking for another. The mana underground had led him to this one, but apparently so had it drawn the other shadow user. Chugging a potion his health jumped up by 20 as he scanned for more. 

Still no monsters he cautiously headed in a random direction. It took an hour, but he eventually found another hut. With no pull from it he was tempted to leave it alone, but he was there for contribution points. 

The darkness surrounded him as he stepped in. No fear he moved down the stairs, gliding on the shadows. When he came to the door he was met with a pop-up window. 

You reek of sex, Abby said. I smell like cherries, Atalanta retorted. Cherries and sex then, she said. Atalanta rolled her eyes. She knew the Saiyan was jealous. They had arrived on the planet close together and immediately started looking around. There had been no monsters so far, but plenty of wildlife. She was a little worried it was like the 2nd trial they took in her Roktai trial, but it was a different planet. Where are we going? Atalanta asked. I thought you were leading! Abby yelled angrily. You're the higher level. By 1 level, Atalanta said. Looking around she wasn't quite sure where to go. There is something She felt the need to move forward. Walking around a tree they saw a clearing with a stone shack at the center. That's not good, Abby said. Atalanta agreed. They cautiously stepped out through the thick brush. Abby walked around the hut but came back to the open maw. What is it? Atty asked. You literally know as much as I do, Abby spat. Sleeping with that idiot made you dumber. I'm gonna kill you and blame it on aliens, Atty warned. The other girl chuckled but left it at that. They had bonded a little on the ship and the time together gave them their own repertoire to express their hate for one another. Since Atalanta had started spending time with Asher and Tiff they hadn't had a chance to hate on the other. They were making up for lost time. I'll go down, Abby said. I don't know, I think I should, Atty said. I feel this almost, draw to it. Abby gave her a weird look but instead of debating, she stepped inside. Hey! Atalanta said trying to follow. She was stopped from entering by an invisible force. WARNING Only one challenger per Hall What the hell, she said. It was eerily like the 2nd trial in the Roktai trial. What? Abby asked, turning around. It says I can't go in, Atty says. Says you're challenging a Hall. Abby looked at the stone walls. Then shrugging her shoulders she said, you snooze you lose. Make sure to wait for me. Fuck that, Atty yelled. You can go die down there. Listen, I have no idea what's going on. Probably a sub-Trial or something. Asher asked us to stick together. So just wait for me, alright? Abby asked. Atalanta rolled her eyes but eventually nodded. Good, I'll try to make it quick. She then started heading down the stairs. It didn't take long for Atalanta to get bored. No longer feeling the draw to the door she looked around. She started feeling a pull from another direction. Atalanta chided herself and decided to stay. She could hang out for at least a little bit, her ADHD wasn't as bad as it used to be. She tapped her foot until she got bored again. Heading toward the new mysterious pull she decided to fly in and check it out, then fly back. Pushing off the ground with mana she moved quickly through the trees. It was only a few miles away when she came across another hut. Doubtful that Abby was anywhere close to done, Atty decided to check it out. Heading down into the dark she turned her 1s and 0s skill on. The blackness of the staircase glowed green as the pattern of the staircase appeared to her. Simple stone stairs, she continued to head down until she came to a small door. Stepping in it looked like a martial arts dojo. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF LIGHTNING Quest Objective: Prove Lightning Mana Rewards: Contribution Points Experience Points ????? - What do you think?' Ria sent to him. They were separated, but with her Binding skill they could stay in touch. I think it's worth a shot,' Bishop sent back. I'm sure that headstrong son of ours is already checking one out,' he sent. He heard his wife laughing in his head. As one they walked down 2 separate stone shack stairs. Bishop pulled Holy Mana to his hand. The dark path was illuminated. The stairs simply kept going so he slowly jogged down. At the door he opened it slowly, releasing his mana as he stepped on the rice panels. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF LIFE Quest Objective: Prove Life Mana Rewards: Contribution Points Experience Points ????? I'm at the Hall of Life,' he sent to his wife. I'm at the Hall of Holy,' his wife sent. What should we do?' Bishop thought about it. He was much stronger than he used to be. He was so proud of all his wife and son had accomplished, and if this helped either of them he would take the risk. We do it,' he sent. For Ash,' she agreed. They stepped as one into their halls. - Vincent headed toward the pull. He came to the clearing only to see 1 of the demons already staring at the staircase. The demon was shorter with a great sword at his back. He had pitch black skin and gray hair. Vincent used Identification on him. Demon Level 35 As Vincent stepped into the clearing the demon turned. His red eyes focused on him. I see, a human. I did not recognize your scent, the demon said in a hiss. His sharp teeth made Vincent shiver. Despite Ria's words, every nerve in Vincent said to kill the thing. The opponents stared at one another. The shorter demon pulled the greatsword from his back. Vincent lifted his Buster Sword. It has gone through a few evolutions since he got it. The thick steel was now red and jagged instead of the silver hunk of metal it started as. How should we settle this? Vincent asked. Simple fight. To the death? The demon asked. I was told to refrain from killing, but no promises, he admitted. Works for me. I am Azhonymus, the black demon said. Vincent, he said back with a nod. With that the fight began. Azhonymous let out a battle shout that made Vincent freeze for a split second. Then the demon was running at him. Vincent began circulating mana through his body as their swords struck. The demon's blade was thinner but had the same strength behind it. They exchanged blows. Kicking up the dead leaves and twigs at their feet. Moving around the clearing no one had the upper hand. Then the enemies sword began to flow with mana, Vincent cursed as he started pouring it into his own. Using his new skill, Powerstrike, he felt the difference in skill levels. Pushed black with blow after blow Vincent jumped back and cast Lightning. The mana formed instantly and shot at the warrior. He barely dodged out of the way, but his feet were caught in a wave of ice, tripping him. Vincent jumped forward and smacked the demon across the face with the flat side of his blade. The demon hit the ground hard and his body bounced back up from the force. He was knocked out, but not dead. Breathing in and out heavily he twirled around as the gauge for his barrier dropped to nothing. His thick blade smacked the ambusher across their hip. They flew through the air and disappeared before hitting the ground. Vincent used Mana Sight to keep an eye on them, but they ran away. It had been one of the clones, a rogue he guessed. Casting barrier again the screen shined around his body then turned invisible. Asher and Keera were right, the materia was pretty awesome. He looked at the demon. There was a gash in his head, but he appeared alive. Turning back to the staircase into the earth he was done waiting. It was calling to him as he stepped in the darkness. Casting fire, a small flame appeared in his hand lighting his way. When he came to the door he was met with a notification. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF PHYSICAL Quest Objective: Prove Physical Mana Rewards: Contribution Points Experience Points ????? He hoped Ming was doing well. - Ming used Lightstep to jump from treetop to treetop. The mana called for her. When she was close to the nearest pool of mana she stopped on a small branch. Her weight hardly moved the twig as she looked down to the ground. There was a clearing and right above the mana was a staircase. Not seeing a trap she jumped and soared the 100 feet until landing next to it. Slowly inspecting it she didn't have a reason to not check it out. Once down the stairs and through the door she was met with the notifications. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF DRAGON Warning! No Dragon Mana sensed in participant. Quest Updating WELCOME TO THE HALL OF DRAGON Quest Objective: Prove Dragon Mana Rewards: Contribution Points Experience Points ????? Time Dilation in Effect - Keera poured her mana in front of her. The screen showed a birdseye view of the area. Raising it up and up she eventually found a few of them. That looks like it's to the Southeast of us, Nadir said. Where I'm feeling the pull. I'm feeling it too, she admitted. But I'm also feeling it to one far away, she said pointing to the Southwest of them. They studied the picture in front of them. There was only the green leaves and the gray huts in view. I hate to say it, but Nadir said. Yeah. Let's split up, she said. I'll go to the other one I feel. You are sure you will be ok? Nadir asked. Hey, you're not the only one with illusions, she said. The first time around she had been too nervous to do more than hide behind them. Now she was a little more confident. She had some more powerful mana pistols, and her new Sonicboom technique. Nadir chuckled. Stay safe, he said. Let's meet back here if nothing happens. She nodded. Pushing mana around her she disappeared from anyone outside of her skill. The screens bent the light around her, skipping her completely. Heading in the direction of the other hut she began to play on her phone. There was so much to edit. She already had over 48 hours worth of videos. The majority of it was explanations from Tyranis and the other crew on the Helion. Also Isyant made up a big chunk with his training about mana. Then of course there was Tosh and his explanations. Her cheeks blushed with the thought of him. She had harbored a crush on him since meeting him. She was living the otaku dream falling for an Isekai and an elf all at once. What most surprised her was he reciprocated the affection. At first he had talked about his life and family back on Earth, but eventually she got to hear about his true life. The one on Elantontrin. He made the entire risk of death and fear worth it all. Lost in her thoughts she didn't realize how close she was to the hut until she was in front of it. She had passed quite a few, but this is the one that drew her in. Looking around no one had seen her. She stepped in casting a screen that showed a white light. Her path became visible. Heading down the stairs the pull of the mana only got stronger. As she stepped through the door she got the message. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF SOUND Quest Objective: Prove Sound Mana Rewards: Contribution Points Experience Points ????? Carl expelled mana disappearing into the shadows. His foe was a tall demon. He wore black plate armor, but underneath he could see the pale white skin. The milky white eyes had no pupils, making him look dead. At least tell me your name human, the demon said. I am Raus. I'm Batman, Carl said. The demon nodded as he drew his long black sword. Darkness swirled around him as his armor clanked. Let us see whose darkness is stronger, the demon hissed as a black blanket escaped from him to lay at his feet. Carl did the same. Stepping into his own shadow he cast his Shadowbolts. The bat like dark bolts struck the demon in the armor but bounced off. The plated demon's blade became sheathed in darkness. He yelled slashing at him, the black mana shot out of the sword at him. Batman drew his sword as he parried the slash. Both appeared to understand this wouldn't be a fight of darkness. They glided near invisibly to one another. Their shadows acting to hide their movements. Their black blades struck one another. Batman circulated as much mana as he could as his blade parried and tried to catch the demon off guard. They both began to sweat as the battle wore on. From an outside spectator it would have appeared that 2 shadows pushed against one another. Moving around the clearing neither had the upper hand. Batman noticed it too late as the demon only used one hand. The other became shrouded in shadow. The darkness took the shape of a shield. As the demon spun it struck him with the shield. Knocked back a step the demon lunged forward with his blade striking Batman through the abdomen. His health dropped by 30. Through gritted teeth Batman Sparta kicked the other man away. He fell back a few feet, but the darkness below him kept him anchored to the ground. They breathed heavily staring at one another. To the death? Or will you yield and find another doorway? Raus asked. Batman was tempted to say to the death, but Ria's words stuck out to him. He wasn't there to kill, Batman didn't kill. I will yield, he admitted. The demon received the first strike, and it was rightfully his. Pushing mana to his feet the shadows glided him back to outside the clearing. The pale demon nodded and without another look turned and headed down into the stone hut. Cursing, Batman began looking for another. The mana underground had led him to this one, but apparently so had it drawn the other shadow user. Chugging a potion his health jumped up by 20 as he scanned for more. Still no monsters he cautiously headed in a random direction. It took an hour, but he eventually found another hut. With no pull from it he was tempted to leave it alone, but he was there for contribution points. The darkness surrounded him as he stepped in. No fear he moved down the stairs, gliding on the shadows. When he came to the door he was met with a pop-up window. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF DEATH Warning! No Death Mana sensed in participant. Quest Updating WELCOME TO THE HALL OF DEATH Quest Objective: Prove Death Mana Rewards: Contribution Points Experience Points ????? Time Dilation in Effect