Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

"As it happens, a heated championship match is underway. You can take a look."

As the Attendant spoke, they conjured another mirror and held it up for Lloyd.

Lloyd took one look and was left speechless.

The screen showed ten cars of all different styles and colors, locked in a chaotic brawl.

And I mean ’brawl’ in the most literal sense...

Not a single car was actually racing or doing laps. They were all piled up near the starting line, smashing into each other.

And it wasn’t just physical collisions; it was a free-for-all of Extraordinary Abilities.

The most ridiculous of all were drivers One and Eight. Their cars were wedged side-by-side, completely stuck. So, they simply opened their doors and started brawling on the spot, turning the race into a full-blown fistfight.

Driver Five, nearby, was even more outrageous. His car had already been wrecked and sat there motionless, belching black smoke. But he refused to give up. He simply got out, raised a bolt-action rifle, and kept on fighting.

Unfortunately, without the protection of his car, he was vulnerable. The driver of car Six stepped on the gas and sent him flying. His fate was unknown as he was brutally eliminated.

"You call this racing?"

Lloyd asked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The Attendant hurriedly explained:

"In reality, this is a rather intense and extreme case. There are plenty of players who race normally. It’s just that the participants in this particular match seem to have an unspoken agreement to settle things at the starting line."

Lloyd watched for a while longer, observing patiently. He discovered that the cars were exceptionally sturdy and agile—

They didn’t break on impact. On the contrary, no matter how battered they became—even if the roof, windshield, or engine was sent flying—they could still keep driving, and the driver inside would remain unharmed.

They could also turn on a dime like a tank or leap into the air from a standstill—maneuvers that would have the forefathers of physics and mechanical dynamics turning in their graves.

In any case, Lloyd felt the car’s appearance was just a facade, a game avatar. It wouldn’t make the slightest difference if you swapped the cars for airplanes, tanks, or even giant robots.

He also noticed that while the drivers were extremely safe inside their cars, they became incredibly vulnerable the moment they were outside. They could easily be sent flying by a collision, shot, or taken down with a punch, appearing as fragile as an ordinary person.

But as long as a driver didn’t get out, even if the car was immobilized, it wouldn’t catch fire and explode. It was still quite safe, though obviously, they wouldn’t be able to be the first to cross the finish line.

’And what’s more, if your own car gets wrecked, you can just go and steal someone else’s?’

The scene playing out before Lloyd’s eyes was a perfect example. Before drivers One and Eight, who had rashly gotten out to brawl, could determine a winner, driver Six stepped on the gas, launched a sneak attack, and sent them both flying.

However, driver Six’s own car was on the verge of falling apart, so he slipped into driver One’s car and continued to lurk nearby, waiting for an opportunity to ambush someone else.

Such a classic troll move...

Once the number of contestants dwindled, only drivers Three and Six were left. Three’s car was falling apart, with basically nothing left but the steering wheel, so he turned his attention to Eight’s relatively intact car, preparing to make a switch.

But this was precisely the trap the troll had set for him.

As driver Three ran toward the car, the troll suddenly floored it, shooting out from the shadows to ram him.

But alas, trolls aren’t meant to win...

Driver Three’s reaction was incredibly fast. He suddenly sidestepped and spun, dodging the troll’s charge, then smoothly leaped in an exaggerated motion into the troll’s passenger seat.

The two of them fought inside the car. The troll was quickly overpowered and kicked out.

But the guy was clever. The moment he hit the ground, he immediately performed a French military salute to signal his forfeit and vanished from the track before he could be run over.

And just like that, driver Three became the final winner, getting the last laugh.

Meanwhile, back in the "Ticket Hall" where Lloyd was, a cacophony of cheers, curses, and sobs erupted.

"I won! I won! My bet paid off! Attendant? I want to exchange this for Transcendence materials!"

"Damn it! Why didn’t he run over that treacherous bastard, Six?"

"ARGH! I bet all my points on One, but why did he have to get out and brawl with someone? What am I going to do now? I promised my girlfriend I’d get her Transcendence materials..."

"I’m guessing it wasn’t his choice. Driver Eight, the one he was up against, is a practitioner of [Law]..."

"Waaah... I’ve lost all my points again. Why can’t you trade points in this damn place?"

Lloyd listened to the microcosm of human drama around him for a moment, then heard the Attendant ask:

"I imagine this game mode meets your standards for being ’safe and fun,’ does it not?"

"I suppose it does."

Lloyd nodded.

He’d realized a while ago that he was weak and inexperienced when it came to PvP, and he had been wanting to improve his skills. Thus, he was actually quite eager to try this kind of intensely competitive game.

It’s just...

"Unfortunately, I don’t know how to drive..."

Lloyd said, exasperated.

"You need not worry about that. Our cars aren’t quite the same as those of the living world. Once you get behind the wheel, you will find it’s very easy to drive."

"Is that so? Alright then, I’ll give it a try."

"In that case, I recommend you start with some regular matches against other players to familiarize yourself with the event before showcasing your strength in the championship... Of course, I am not saying this to question your skill, but simply for your own safety."

As the Attendant spoke, they pointed to a wall on the left side of the "Ticket Hall," where a blackboard displayed various messages written by players:

"6-player newbie lobby, First Tier players wanted."

"4-player casual practice, no ramming, Tier Three players wanted."

"20-player lobby, looking for below Tier Four, with dynamic betting odds."

"Does anyone want to have a real race?"

If those "looking for group" messages seemed relatively normal, the ones that followed grew increasingly absurd:

"1v1 win-trading for championship qualification. Honest players only."

"Win-rate boosting service, fifty thousand Universal Coins per match. Get you qualified for the championship fast."

"Established Association recruiting [Curse] apprentices. A High-ranking Powerhouse is in charge. We’ll take you to the pinnacle of your life."

"For sale: ’Redemption Saint x Law Saint Artbook.’ Experience the taboo love between the Saints."

Lloyd was dumbfounded. He then heard the Attendant continue its introduction:

"In regular matches between players, the rules can be freely customized. You must accumulate a certain number of wins to participate in the championship. Of course, for you, no such restriction applies."

"So this is the ’little surprise’ you’ve prepared for me in this game?"

Lloyd retorted.

The Attendant simply smiled without answering, changing the subject.

"Please, experience it for yourself. I will now go and resolve your other troubles. Pardon me for taking my leave."

With that, they took a few steps back and vanished silently into thin air.

’Since I’m already here, I might as well give it a try.’

Muttering to himself, Lloyd walked over to the large "group recruitment" blackboard, looking for a suitable beginner’s match.

But the moment he got close, two people flanked him from the left and right, greeting him enthusiastically.

"Hello, are you new here? First time playing?"

Lloyd nodded.

The two exchanged a glance, nodded, and then spoke one after another.

"Perfect, we’re new too. With those three over there, we can make a six-player newbie practice match. How about it?"

"Since we’re all new, let’s keep the stakes low. Five points a game, sound good?"

Lloyd currently had 28 regular points and 2 precious points, so he could certainly afford it.

The entry fee for this mode was five points, which was the smallest possible stake.

Lloyd nodded. They quickly came to an agreement, and the six of them gathered and headed to a small room nearby that resembled a VIP lounge.

The room was furnished with a circular sofa. A Control Crystal was placed in front of each seat, and an oversized Crystal Ball sat in the center, supposedly for setting the match rules.

One of the people who had approached him earlier walked up to the oversized Crystal Ball, placed both hands on it, and announced loudly:

"Alright, as agreed: a six-player match, five-point entry fee, winner-take-all. No attacking drivers, standard track, four laps to win..."

He read out a list of terms and finally said:

"Everyone can touch the Control Crystal in front of you for final confirmation. If there are no issues, let’s get started as soon as possible."

Since it was his first time playing, Lloyd listened very carefully. He quickly noticed that the man hadn’t set any player Tier restrictions, unlike the posts on the recruitment board outside.

’Was it a simple oversight? Or perhaps...’

Lloyd didn’t dwell on it. It was his first time, after all, and he didn’t really know the ropes.

’In any case, this is just the second floor. All the players are below Tier Five, so it’s not like there will be any outrageously High-ranking Powerhouses. I’ll just play a round and see what happens.’

He placed his hand on the Control Crystal before him. The previously stated terms appeared in his vision, with an option at the very bottom: "Pay Five Points."

After he selected "Confirm," his vision blurred. The next thing he knew, he was inside a car.

’Is this Space transfer again?’ he thought. ’Using such advanced technology just for a game... I don’t know whether to call it luxurious or wasteful.’

But then, two lines of text appeared in his vision:

"Vehicle will be matched with corresponding strength and Attack Power based on your Tier, Attributes, system, and other factors. Assessing your status..."

"You are a being who can touch greatness. Vehicle appearance can be customized."