NOVEL NEXT 131: M.D.S.S.C. 1
<20 September 2024, MIRROR DEEP RETREAT, ????>
[Theo and Julia]
>Local Message: Universal Translation in effect
"Greetings and welcome back to the Mirror Deep Retreat," Laurel said.
"Hey, Laurel!" Julia said with a smile.
"Ah, Lord and Lady Sorrin, it is good to see you." Laurel said, "It is fortunate that you have come on this day. If you wish, I will allow you to take part still."
Theo and Julia looked confusedly at each other. Theo spoke, "Take part? In what, Laurel?"
"The Mirror Deep Soul Submission Contest." Laurel said, "I hold this competition annually; today is the finals. As it is a team event and allows items, you will be well prepared."
Julia looked somewhat excited at the idea of the competition. Theo looked hesitant and held up the hand with the Ring of Eternal Mourning on it. "I am unable to remove this. I don't know if it will impact the competition."
Theo felt a wash of power hit the ring. Laurel nodded. "Understood, as such it is considered a part of your person. I will, however, have to place you into a higher-level bracket."
Theo looked at Julia. She smiled and spoke, "We can bathe afterwards, a competition sounds like fun."
"Okay, Laurel, do we have time for you to give us a quick rundown of what we would be signing up for?" Theo asked.
"Of course," She said and waved her hand, causing a blue box to appear.
| 127th Annual Mirror Deep Soul Submission Contest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Soul Submission Contest is a test of soul strength. Teams of not more than four will wear devices crafted to allow battles for control. The control is limited, and after all members of a team are forced to submit, usually indicated by having the losing team perform a dance of some kind, the control is terminated. The following rules must be adhered to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule 1: All forms of attack not channeled through the control devices are forbidden. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule 2: Only skills that are channeled through the control device or the soul directly are permitted, regardless of their common use in or out of combat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule 3: As the control devices use a very specific kind of skill, the area for the competition is a System-designated combat area. You will not attack anyone for any reason outside of the control devices. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule 4: All judging will be performed by Laurel; her ruling is final. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule 5: Four wardens of good faith are in attendance; they are responsible for stopping all fights, and death at their hands is considered the fault of the one who initiated the fight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Do you agree to these terms? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YES | NO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Theo and Julia both read over the screen. Theo looked at Julia, "What do you think?"
"I mean, I am interested." Julia said, "Let's do it."
Theo shrugged and hit accept alongside Julia. Laurel nodded. "Very well, you will be shown to the area you need to be."
A familiar face appeared and bowed to them, "Theo, Julia, it is excellent to see you once again."
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Julia smiled, "Alisaria! I am glad to see you again."
They started walking, and Julia chattered with the dragon woman. When they approached a large door, Alisaria stopped and looked at them both. "I must warn you that you will be the lowest level individuals by far in this room. The bracket that you should probably be in for your level is the one hundred or less bracket. The next bracket is one-hundred to one-hundred and fifty."
Theo smiled, "Thanks, Alisaria, we appreciate the heads up."
"Well then," Alisaria bowed, "I wish you luck."
Theo and Julia stepped through the door into an absolutely massive space and received a message.
>Private Message: Combat System Active
Everywhere they looked, they saw levels that averaged around one hundred and thirty-five. Theo looked over Julia's head, and she looked over his.
{Theodore Oskar Sorrin, Level 14, A-}
{Julia Sorrin, Level 14, A-}
Theo laughed, "Well, guess we are the easy pickin's."
"True enough," Julia chuckled, "hope that ring pulls its weight."
"Oh, I imagine that it will, and you two will do better than we expect." A familiar voice said from their left.
Theo and Julia turned to see a table with silver gauntlets on it, and four throne-like chairs behind it. In the leftmost two were familiar faces, and in the rightmost two were unknowns.
{Patriarch Aftary Karzun, Level ???, ???}
{Lord Ka the Mournful, Level ???, ???}
{Strigthix the Ravenous, Level ???, ???}
{Lady Xandur, Level ???, ???}
Theo and Julia both bowed deeply. Julia spoke, "Patriarch Karzun, Lord Ka, it is a pleasure to see both of you again. And a pleasure to meet both of you as well, Ladies Strigthix and Xandur."
Theo, recognizing that he did not excel in these situations, simply kept his mouth shut, earning a small smile from Patriarch Karzun, who responded. "Lord and Lady Sorrin..."
The room grew noticeably quieter as those around them noticed the respect that Patriarch Karzun's voice held, "...I am glad to see you both here, and I must say that I have to agree with Lord Ka, I think that even without the ring the two of you would do far better here than you suspect."
"Thank you, Patriarch Karzun," Julia said, straightening up, Theo following suit, "you flatter us with your high expectations."
Lord Ka chuckled, "I had heard that you were the more diplomatic of the pair, but it is amusing to see how quickly young Theo knows to let you take the lead, Lady Sorrin, especially after our last meeting and how quick he was to shut down people far above his level. Congratulations on the founding of your family once again."
"These are the two whom you have spoken of?" Lady Xandur asked Patriarch Karzun.
"They are indeed." Patriarch Karzun said with a dismissive wave, "But that is a thing for another time, for now we should explain what we must."
They quickly ran over the rules once more, Theo and Julia agreed. Then Patriarch Karzun had them each pick up a silver gauntlet and place it on their forearm, before they felt a bond of power link them and then shatter. Lady Strightix looked confused. Patriarch Karzun waved a hand, "Let them proceed, they are bound to each other far more deeply than any link you could form, Strighix."
Theo and Julia bowed again and then walked away to join the crowd of nearly one hundred people. As they looked around, suddenly the lights dimmed and Laurel appeared in a ring of glowing purple and blue light. "I have heard the complaints and will rectify this situation immediately. Lord and Lady Sorrin, please step forth."
Theo and Julia did as they were asked.
"Many of you have stated that a pair of level fourteens do not deserve to be here," Laurel said, "despite my assurances, you have demanded that they provide proof. So one of you has volunteered to test them. Lord Varess Karzun-Morrakai, will you please bring your team forward?"
Theo and Julia were surprised when Varess and two others stepped forward.
{Varess Karzun-Morrakai, Level 137, S-}
{Wynez Karzun-Morrakai, Level 101, A+}
{Purdan Karzun-Morrakai, Level 117, A+}
Varess smiled down at Theo and Julia as all three of the dragons had taken on humanoid forms over eight feet tall. "Well, if it isn't the little Lord and Lady that Sylvi just won't stop talking about."
"Hello, Varess." Theo said, "Thank you for your fine work earlier."
"These are the humans?" the female with the name Wynez, floating over her head, asked. "They are only level fourteen. Why does Sylvi care?"
Theo shot a searching glance at Patriarch Karzun. The male with the name Purdan caught the look. "You think the Patriarch cares about you?"
"No," Theo said, locking eyes with the taller man, "But I do have dealings with the Patriarch, and do not wish to spoil them. If letting you win the cost of that, I am willing to pay it."
Patriarch Karzun let out a laugh. "Let it be known to all that unless there will be permanent damage, I will not interfere with any competition, nor will the others here. And to Lord and Lady Sorrin, worry not. I know that this is not personal."
Theo smiled, "Well then, let's get this show on the road."
Laurel nodded. "Understood. Participants, in five seconds, your souls will be linked. At that time, the fight commences."
Theo and Julia nodded, and the three dragons seemed to brace themselves.
"Five," Laurel said.
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
Laurel stepped back. "One. Begin."