As Coco, Aelx, Fenrir, and Zena all walked into the Sinful Hunters guild hall, they saw over one hundred adventures yelling in excitement.
They were used to thirty or so people inside the guild hall. So to see a sea of well armed people with competitive smiles on their faces all in one place was shocking.
How do we even have a chance at winning when every single person here other than us is rank C or above? Coco thought, feeling the pressure of the room weigh on her.
Fenrir placed her hand on Coco's back as a form of support. "I see Pigsky, let's go say hi."
The group headed over to Pigsky and his two supporters Red and Yellow.
"You guys finally made it, nice! Oh, and you all seem a bit more mature than when we went to the dungeon a while back. I can't wait to face all of you in the games." Pigsky said with the same competitive grin that everyone else in the guild had.
David walked out onto the third floor of the adventuring all; clad in golden armor from head to toe.
"It's about to begin." Red said to the group.
Everyone in the guild went from cheering to silent. Waiting for David's announcement.
David raised his hand high into the sky. Then he dropped it down to the floor saying, "Dragons Hoard." This was a spell.
This spell pulled everyone other than the receptionists and guild master Charr into a mysterious black area. Almost like a waiting room.
People cheered at this saying things like "It's finally begun" and "it feels like forever since I've been in this space."
Coco, Fenrir, Alex, and Zena were all confused, looking around waiting for the next announcement.
Suddenly, as though placed in front of everyone individually, was a floating scroll.
A pure gold casing rolled out in front of each person revealing a long white paper with the borders of the paper showing golden vines.
Words magically started to appear on the paper.The time dilation in my realm is twenty minutes to one, not that you feel said difference.Thirty two groups will participate this year.The winner is the last group remaining over the course of three events.Any and all items found during the event are yours to use until the event ends.
The scroll zipped back up with grace, then unrolled again. Magically displaying new information.The first event will be thirty two groups split up into eight different areas. The last remaining two groups of each area move to the next event.The second event is a game of finding the exit. The first eight groups to leave the area will go to the final section.The last event is a tournament style elimination. The last party to make it through will win it all!Any questions?
Everyone in the guild hall was ready to start the competition, so no one said anything, except for Coco. "How does this domain work?" Her interest in magic overrides all of the other adventurers' impatience of wanting to begin.
Once again the scroll folded up then unfurled itself displaying a long text. Almost like out of a history book. This time with no number.
Domains are a complex magic that only a handful of people in the world can use. Domains are fixed, meaning a person cannot change the way their domains present themselves.
With that, certain items, like mana rocks, can increase the potency of these realms. David's domain holds three mythic ranked mana rocks as an example. These domains can hold items, be bent to the user's will, trap others, or be used to flee from a fight.
Domains are considered among the best in terms of flexibility. Within these realities, the user does not need to use incantations to cast spells, similar to using a mana rock. David's domain is called "Dragons Hord."
Within this realm there are ten different locations that David alters to fit his needs. These locations are as follows: rock, water, wind, fire, wood, ice, thunder, poison, light, and dark. Each of these areas comes with their own unique ecosystems, monsters, items, and challenges.
One might think that not changing how a domain presents itself and being able to bend a domain to their will is counter intuitive. However, there is a difference. David cannot, for example, change his fire domain to be that of wind, but he can change the fire aspect to lava, making it more devastating…
This went on for a while, which bored everyone in the guild hall, even the other members of Team Earth, other than of course, Coco herself.
Eh? Three? Three mythic level mana rocks in one place?? Did I read that right? I mean, I am a good reader, and can re-read the paper before me, so I am reading it right. Are my eyes deceiving me?? There are only five mythic stones known in existence. One of them is said to be with the elves, one is a living being who reportedly wanders around the world, the last three are with Greed? AHH
"Anything else?" The magic paper asked.
Coco's thoughts were suddenly put to a halt.
"No." Coco said dismissing the magic.
The scroll zoomed up again then shot down again displaying one last bit of information to everyone.
Good luck!
At the end of the introduction, each group was teleported out of the black waiting room and placed into their designated areas.
…
Swish, Swoosh, Swish, Swoosh
Rocking.
That was the first feeling that Fenrir, Coco, Zena, and Alex felt after being teleported out of the liminal black space.
Each person was standing upright, but they had to catch themselves from falling onto the ground the moment they felt the vessel they were standing on begin to rock back and forth.
The group looked at their surroundings.
Wooden floor board
A clear sky, bright blue with white fluffy clouds, and calming sounds of waves crashing.
Walking over to the side of the vessel, the group saw the ocean, blue sparkling water expanding outwards as far as the eye can see.
In the far distance dark blue and black clouds forming with lightning strikes raining down under them.
"A ship! Oh my God, we are totally on a ship right now! This is my first time seeing the ocean! This is so super duper exciting right?!? Ahahaha! The ship's white masts are also reallllly big!" Alex yelled in exasperation of being on a giant wooden pirate ship.
Although Alex was excited, Coco was panicked. I might not know everyone's magic, but I feel like we are really bad in water. Sitting ducks. Crap crap crap!
"Relax Coco, we aren't alone, if you just look around for a second." Fenrir said, placing his hand on her shoulder, trying to calm down his teammate.
Coco turned away from the edge of the ship and looked at the deck.
Above some wooden steps, there is a giant wheel and giant captain's hat peering over it. Under the hat, seen through the notches of the wheel, is a tall figure.
A lionfish lion fish.
White with red stripes surrounding his face and webbed hands. Presumably, under his captain's clothes, which was mainly a long sea blue trench coat and black boots, his entire body had this design.
This man was also a lion. The size, head, face, and jaw of a lion.
A lionfish lion fish.
Although he stood up on two feet and grinned like a regular person would, this man was indeed a fish lion.
"I was told I'd be getin a crew. All I see before me are inexperienced, good for nut'ins. Oh well we got bigger things to be worrin about." The captain said this with his naturally booming voice and looking at another giant ship, heading straight for them.
The group turned to see what the captain was looking at. A giant green vessel, with navy blue masts, and the bow being more akin to a spear, inching through the sea water.
The captain of this green vessel was a half hammerhead half human hybrid with a long sword on his back. Next to the captain are two people.
A hulk of a human with no real stand out features besides his muscles. His hair is brown and wearing a white shirt, black plants, a belt, black boots, and a swashbuckler.
The tiny girl next to him however was more interesting. Pink hair, eye patch, a red long sleeved crop top, brown shorts, boots extending past her knees, and a giant knight's sword.
"Who are these people!" Alex yelled in shock.
"That be Captain Karrin, those next to him must be his crew."
"Did everyone get a new crew?" Zena asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Mmm, the rest of our crews all died last fight with the Aziel."
"What in the made up plot did David make up for this event!?!" Fenrir blurted out in panic.
"Who ye be talking about, Davad? Anyway, what we be deal'in with now is Captain Karrin." The captain said pulling his sword out from its sheath and steering the wheel to try and move out of the way.
"What is your name Captain? I am Fenrir and these are my friends."
"I am Captain Treon."