There were other people that didn't stay long in the resort just like Viers. During the flight, some chatted and greeted each other, some preferred being their own company. Either way, they all flew towards one direction, the quest obelisk – the sole place where they all could get more spark shards.

Oh? So that’s why they are taking our names.

Near the quest obelisk, there was a new addition that wasn't there before.

A ranking list.

The ranking was written on a smaller obelisk. All 382 names were listed, with the top depicted the name or alias of the highest spark shards holder while the lowest was written on the bottom. Those with black spark had their name written in black and white letters for the chooser of white spark. This way everyone knew which camp the ranker belonged to.

“Viers, go go! Let’s see it!” Clarissa urged.

“Yes, I’m also curious,” Paina added.

Viers already flew toward the smaller obelisk. There was already a crowd in front of it.

Uwahhh... What are these names? Viers was taken aback.

Lord Ultimate, Blue Orchid, Youallsucks, Jam-man, 303, Mountain Iron, Flazzz, Airmaster, Viper Lady, Mr. Great, Divine Punishment, Lioness, Eat Shit, I Am Number One, Killing Shot, DIE, Big Boss 69, Dark Zero, Fairy Ice, EEEaziii, Emperor of Storms, Night Bloom, and many others.

The solemn air of the super-great-unprecedented-inside-the-book trial is ruined now. This is just like MMORPGs back home… There are normal ones though, Ivory Flame, Noble Tiger, Squire, Anne, Boram, Black Cat, etc.

Ivory Flame and Noble Tiger are their adventurer nicknames, Anne and Boram are real names, Black Cat… could it be Izabella? This Squire… not Catherine I hope.

Viers shuddered imagining he must fight the girl who would later be called the Black Queen.

Let’s see, mine is… there.

Tanael barely squeezed into the top 60.

Well, it's still early, Viers wasn't discouraged. Even if he was in the last place, so what? What mattered was that he was at the top at the end.

Although it wasn't too significant at this time, Viers took note of the name of the top ranker: Oscar Regisea.

Harry’s cousin, huh. Nephew of the GK. His father is also a Level 5.

Time stopped for no one. The candle was still burning.

Viers promptly left the rank list with a bunch of chuunibyou names and took a quest, hoping to waste the bad taste in his mouth.

“Alright, let's get down to business,” Viers, who was very handsome right now, psyched himself up.

Viers changed things up this time and didn't continue monster-slaying. This time Viers chose a quest of a different genre on normal difficulty.

Viers burned the quest card and found himself in a room with thousands of statues.

“Whoa… Nice terracotta soldiers.”

Find the one true statue among the fakes, that was the quest’s objective.

“Euryale Sight!”

Viers’ eyes glowed green. This was the source of his confidence when choosing this quest.

***

Hard Difficulty Quest: Gather 10 Uluputi fruits.

In a lush jungle filled with monsters, Viers must gather the fruits. Viers sneak-sneaked from shadow to shadow using the Arte Fade in Shadow. His stealth got blown and he was forced to fight but he’d managed to gather 4 fruits at that point. Viers bulldozed the monsters until the quest’s completion.

***

Hard Difficulty Quest: Escort a merchant caravan through a valley filled with monster monkeys. The more wagons preserved, the higher the rewards.

The caravan was filled with people -correction- NPCs dressed like merchants.

Viers fought waves of monkeys of various sizes while waiting for the slow-moving wagons to move forward. Out of 10 wagons, 5 survived the trip to the other side. The quest allowed up to four people which resulted in Viers having difficulties guarding the caravan alone.

The quest lasted for two hours, much to Viers’ chagrin.

***

Expert Difficulty Quest: Survive for a minimum of 10 minutes. The longer you last, the greater the reward.

Viers found himself in a dim space, in the middle of a circular arena. Before long, skeletons were approaching him from the darkness of the arena’s edge. The skeletons walked slowly with weapons in their hands, hacking at Viers without a voice.

Viers smacked the skeletons with his sword to clear them out. They crumbled easily but more skeletons just kept pouring in from all directions.

Seeing his offense was useless, Viers turned to defense and activated Water Barrier Arte. The skellies knocked their weapons against the barrier futilely.

This quest seems to be geared to those with high defense. Mu?

Over time, Viers felt the force hitting his barrier increased.

They are getting stronger!?

Viers then changed his approach from the soul angle, using Fatal Soulframe before the barrier of water was broken.

It wasn't effective at all.

On closer observation, these skellies are soulless. The thick necromancy muddled my senses. They are moved by energy like puppets with strings, not using souls.

3 minutes in, Viers opted to come out from his shell and cleared the arena before the skeletons buried him. Using his Horizon-empowered Water Sword Rain AoE Arte, Viers managed to clear the bones.

7 minutes in, Viers was forced to fight for real before the skeletons became too strong. They were no longer naked and thin skeletons but armored and menacing.

9 minutes in, the skeletons were only a bit weaker than him who was already buffed with Anima Symphony. Viers felt like he was fighting 30 Alans at the same time.

Viers immediately stopped the quest the second he reached completion of 10 minutes. He didn't want to risk getting heavy injuries on the first day.

Expert quests are no joke… That was close.

Viers sighed in relief while his black spark absorbed the reward of his labor.

***

Stepping out of the portal Viers found himself back in the place he dubbed ‘Quantum Main Hub’. Viers’ brain was hard at work, compiling the data he gathered, analyzing. The data would be beneficial in the coming six days. While he was doing so, he was taken aback by the sight of someone he didn't expect.

“What?”

“He’s-!”

“Is that Max?”

Viers, Paina, and Farley let out their surprise. The person in question was a young boy in the middle of a talk with another person. The guy talked with smiles but there was a gloominess on his face that never went away. He looked like a person shouldering a heavy burden.

In the past, before Luxore town’s destruction Viers, Paina, and Farley were attending a class for becoming adventurers there. Max was one of their classmates.

“I thought he died,” Paina said.

“To think we’ll meet him in this kind of circumstance,” Farley couldn't hide her disbelief.

Since Viers wore a different face, Max didn't recognize him. After the chat, Max went away, taking another quest. Viers approached Max’s conversation partner.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“You know that guy?”

“Of course I do. He’s the Ivory Flame, a famous adventurer.”

***

Viers was watching the grilled meat on top of the fire somewhat absentmindedly. There was no sun in this place but Viers had a clock. It was already time for supper so Viers took a normal quest, killed the monster, then set up camp in that small but private space without passing through the exit portal.

He had spent the whole day doing all kinds of quests from easy to expert difficulty. He believed he had gathered enough samples. Although, His mind wandered for something else entirely.

Max didn't die. He somehow survived Luxore town. It wasn't impossible, he could have been just away from the town at that time. The thing is he’s now Ivory Flame, a great adventurer. He’s always been the top of the class but I don't think he’s super talented, a little above average at best. The fact he’s in here means Aletro acknowledged him… meaning Max thrived since the last time I saw him.

While others in Viers’ position would be overjoyed having seen an old friend, Viers’ was thinking whether he should terminate him or not.

Viers Isuel’s name and face are already in the wanted poster, Max should have seen that. Is he blaming me and seeking revenge? He would, wouldn't he? He must have lost someone in Luxore… Worst case scenario, he’s lost everyone.

Boy, family died, home destroyed, sounds like the start of a hero’s journey to me.

No cliches escaped his scrutiny.

The ‘Hero’ would definitely seek the truth or find out about the origin of the tragedy that befalls him. It just so happens that I am… or at least I have a hand in that tragedy. We’ll clash. I should kill him before he knows the truth.

Naturally, Farley and Paina didn't know his thoughts of homicide.

Viers sighed hard and long. Remembering with melancholy the fishing trip he had with Paina, Farley, Max, and one other.

Viers took a huge bite from the cooked monster meat. Shame it has come to this, boy.

Viers wasn't one for being squeamish when push comes to shove. He recognized this as what it is: a threat to his life.

Part of a hero’s journey was the death of the villain.

After making up his mind, his breathing was a little easier. He put the matter of Max to the back of his head. The most important thing for him now was the trial.

***

After filling his belly, Viers went right back to questing. There was still time before it was sleeping time and only the foolish and the lazy didn't make use of their limited time to the fullest.

“I’m Tanael. Nice to meet you,” Viers smiled brightly and refreshingly.

“Three-oh-three,” the girl said.

“My name is I Am Number One. Let’s get to it then,” the guy shook Viers’ hand.

Because Viers was magnanimous, he didn't comment on their names and held down the urge to cringe.

Viers teamed up with trial taker 303 and trial taker I Am Number One in a group quest. The three of them were all on team black.

A while later, the elephant monster was defeated.

“Hahahaha! Good job everyone,” I Am Number One spoke loudly. Out of the three, he looked the oldest, in his mid-twenties.

“It’s because of 303's support,” Viers praised.

“Nonsense. The timing of your shield and Number One’s offense are the main reason for our victory,” 303 praised back with all smiles.

“What a good fight. What a good fight!” I Am Number One laughed heartily.

After absorbing the spark shards evenly the three parted ways cordially.

“I don't get it,” Paina said.

“You said you want to do evil, but you’re working together so well,” Clarissa pondered. “Changed your mind?”

Viers’ sinister grin would make a serial killer winch.

“Girls, it’s basic animal husbandry. What’s the point of slaughtering thin pigs for meat? You must let them fatten up first. Only then will their meat be juicy and delicious. In the coming days, we must gather information about other participants. Who’s prey and who’s not. Those two? They're prey. Come on, let’s find more piggies.

At the same time.

“How about him, Brother Asef, shall we target him?” 303 spoke.

“It is clear he’s not someone used to battle. My bet is he’s a pampered young master born with a silver spoon. We should put him on the menu,” I Am Number One nodded.

The other group also thought the same things as Viers.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Thrust under matching circumstances, those possessing the black spark pretty much thought of something similar: to rob other’s spark shards at a later date.