Chapter 114 - 111 : Why is this guy everywhere I go
Sora had just read the notifications explaining the rules when he felt the gazes of several people on him, realizing he was the last one to join.
Scanning his surroundings, he noticed players organized in small groups of three to ten, clearly prepared for combat. He recognized a few faces—players whose familiars had been defeated by Netsu on the fourth floor—but saw no one he knew personally.
Kara, Rachel, Kim, Emily, and his other guildmates were nowhere to be seen.
As he continued scanning the crowd, his eyes finally landed on a familiar face—Klunor, the dark elf general.
"Why is this guy everywhere I go?" Sora thought, a bit annoyed. He didn't dislike Klunor, but it was starting to feel like they were somehow fated to cross paths repeatedly.
Klunor was deep in conversation with a few other players, their wary eyes scanning the surrounding groups. Noticing Sora's arrival, Klunor stepped forward, offering him a greeting.
"Hello, Ralph. I can't decide if bumping into you again is luck or trouble at this point," Klunor said with a stiff smile, glancing around at the crowd. "Have you noticed the atmosphere here?" He nodded subtly toward the elite groups of high-level players.
"See how the top players have formed their own circles?" Klunor pointed out.
Sora looked around and noticed that high-level players had indeed grouped up with others of their race, often including one or two lower-level players from their own faction.
"They're planning to let the lower-level players be eliminated first?," Sora said, quickly grasping the situation.
Klunor nodded. "Exactly. They're setting us up to fall early, avoiding unnecessary battles themselves. Lower-level players might still rank high based on their performances on earlier floors. By taking us out here, they remove the competition and make this trial easier for themselves."
Sora sneered. 'What a bunch of cowards', he thought.
Klunor caught his expression and added, "This so-called 'team-based' trial isn't fooling anyone. Every player here is out for themselves."
He paused, meeting Sora's gaze. "That's why we've grouped up." He gestured to the three players nearby, all between levels 135 and 140. "Would you consider joining us?"
Sora glanced over at Klunor's group. Teaming up might improve his odds, but he preferred relying on himself rather than risking working with strangers—or players from an opposing faction.
"Thanks, but I'll stick to playing solo," he replied, shaking his head. "Good luck."
Klunor looked disappointed but nodded in understanding. "Alright… I understand. Just be careful out there. If things get rough, remember that our offer still stands."
After watching Klunor return to his group, Sora summoned his now-infamous phoenix, ignoring the flinches from some of the other players' familiars, and steadied himself for the trial.
Just then, a new notification appeared in front of everyone.
| [The trial has started] |