Chương 68: Chapter 66-Chosen Stabbing

Hot and cold. Cold and hot. This staircase reminds me of the sewers that silent Pete lives in. During the summer, it was sweltering hot down there, and during the winter, it was colder than a Frost Salamander's ass. That's how it usually was, but during spring and fall it was both hot and cold. It was so bad that not even silent Pete would stay down there. Now, I'm sitting on a staircase between Dungeon floors like an idiot.

Hopper, who is sitting further down the staircase, pipes up, "Are you sure you don't want to come further down? It's nice down here." Through my heated daze, I looked at the freezing staircase.

"I'm good Hopper. Unlike you, I don't have a natural resistance to the cold," I say as I lean against the wall.

"Yeah, I guess you don't. Uh, today's your duel, right?" he asks.

"Yup. Today's the fateful day. The day that will go down in history," I say dramatically in the haze.

"Are you nervous? It's okay if you're nervous."

"Nervous? Me? Never. I'm The Chosen One after all. The only thing I'm worried about is ending the duel too quickly," I [Lie].

"Yeah, I guess you would be. …CJ, what does it mean to be strong? I'm not asking how to get strong or anything like that. I'm just asking…" he trails off at the end.

"Power. Intelligence. Will. None of these matter. When you're strong, you just are. No one can challenge you, and you can do whatever you want. After all, you are strong," I say as I remember the past.

"That doesn't seem very Chosen of you. It sounds closer to evil than anything else," he says with a hint of worry.

"Being strong isn't good or bad. It just is. We've fought monsters that are strong and a Demon that was certainly stronger than us. Were they strong because they were bad? What about the First Chosen One? She, to this day, is considered one of the strongest Chosen Ones. Was she strong because she was good?" I ask as a chill runs through me.

"Well, when you put it that way, no. So, what does that mean?" he asks.

"Being strong has jackshit to do with anything concerning morality. Some people are born strong, some train to be strong, and others fumble their way into it. It's really a shitty roulette that has nothing to do with being good or evil. So, what does it mean to be strong? It means you win. At the end of the day, that's all it boils down to," I say as I take a bite of my pineapple cake.

"That seems… wrong in some way. So, if you lose, you're weak? Would that mean I would be weak if I lost the duel against Lu, or rather that Lu is weak for having lost?" he asks with a hint of suspicion.

"Yes. Which comes to the second part. The concept of being weak and being strong is bullshit. At least the general idea of it is. Everyone can be weak and strong at different things, different times, and against different people. So, stop worrying about this weak and strong bullshit. Instead, focus on one thing," I say as I sneer at my pineapple cake.

"What's that one thing?" he asks with curiosity.

"Whatever you want it to be."

"What?"

"Whatever you want it to be. At this point in time, I want to do whatever I want whenever I want. For other people, they might want to find love, become the best blacksmith, travel the continent, or maybe make a shit ton of money. Focus on what you want. It doesn't matter why or how, just that you do. Later, if you don't like it, then change it," I explain.

"Doesn't that just loop around to what you first said about being strong?" Hopper asks in confusion.

"Yup. Does it make sense? Maybe not. Is it because of the heat-induced delirium? Maybe or maybe it's because what it means to be strong is dependent on the person's perspective. So, maybe being strong for me is a contradiction. Ah, I don't know, man. It's too hot and cold to think," I say as another flash of cold pulses through me. Hopper looks at the frozen stairs in silence.

"I don't know. I think I like your idea. Being strong means doing what you want to do. It's somewhat freeing, but it's not what I expected you to say."

"Did you want me to say that being strong is dependent on who yells their [Skill] the loudest? Like you did during your duel," I tease. Hopper blushes in embarrassment.

"That was a sound and tactical decision."

"Oh, yeah. I'm sure yelling at the top of your lungs doubles the damage of your [Skill]," I say sarcastically. Hopper looks at me, dumbfounded.

"It does."

"What?"

"Do you not listen in class at all?" he asks the obvious.

"Well, I must have missed that day in class. Why don't you refresh my memory?" I [Lie] fully knowing I wasn't paying attention.

"To put it simply, [Skills], especially those that require MP, will gain more power the longer and/or more complex their activation becomes. It apparently gives the [Skill] more structure, which gives it more power. I think the example that Professor Stargazer gave had something to do with a lake," he says as he thinks about it. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"A lake. Like how to fill it?"

"No, but I remember now. So, assume your [Skill] is your hands. I ask you to bring me enough water from the lake to fill a small tub. Using just your hands will take quite a bit of time. Now what if you could make your [Skill] more complex, or in this case, what if you used a bucket?" he asks as he pushes his glasses up.

"Well, obviously, the bucket will be the correct choice."

"Now, let's say that bucket is on the entirely opposite side of the lake from you. Which one is the correct choice?"

"The bucket still. It may take more time, but it will still be faster than using my hands," I say, wondering where this is going.

"Correct. Now, let's say that I need you to fill this tub in under thirty seconds. What's the correct answer?" he asks with a smug look.

"The bucket is too far for me to get it in time, so I have to use my hands."

"Good. Basically, the same principle applies to chants, oaths, magic circles, and anything that adds complexity to a [Skill]. Sure, they might make the [Skill] stronger, but you're probably not going to have the time to pull it off in combat." I nod my head.

"So, it's a gamble, just like the one you pulled off in your duel against Lupin," I say, remembering the magic circle Hopper set up in the fight.

"Yup. Sometimes they pay off. Other times they don't. Which is why you have to find the fine line between complexity and activation time, otherwise you might end up dead. Which is also why Professor Stargazer barred us from messing with [Skill] complexity until we hit [Level 15]," he explains with an awkward chuckle.

"Huh. Breaking the rules, Hopper? How uncharacteristic. Well, I guess you do break curfew every night to go see Luna, so I should've expected this from you," I tease. He turns beet-red at the mention of his nightly escapades with Luna. To think they are still only 'Friends'. I'd bet my right horn that they get together before the year ends.

"Listen, I got an earful from the Professor after the duel, and I had to make a whole essay about the dangers of complexity vs activation time. It was terrible," he says with a sigh. My vision starts to fill with a bright light that I've slowly become familiar with.

"Speaking of Professor Stargazer. Seems our time here is done."

"Seems so. Good luck, CJ. I know you can do it."

"Of course I can. I'm The Chosen One, after all," I say with a devilish smile. Sitting in the preparation area, I munch on some pineapple cake. Gods, this batch is not good. Seems I messed up the ratio between acidity and sweetness. I'll have to try again after this duel. Which should start any minute. They're just getting the stadium set up before we go out there. With a sigh, I look down at my gear. A trusty sword that was lent to me by the university.

Turns out they don't allow the use of magic items in these duels unless you made it yourself. Fair, but I don't like it. I also have my pouch of rocks and my winning personality. There's absolutely no way I lose this. After all, I have a plan. I rarely have a plan. Well, I rarely have a plan before I start a fight. It's not really my bread and butter. 1st Years 2nd Years 100 151 Now, one might see the score and be disparaged. After all, when I win, I'll only get fifty points.

That's not even a tie, but I'm not worried. I have a plan. A foolproof plan that nothing could get in the way of. The gem in front of me alights, signaling that it's almost time.

"Guess I should get out there and put on a show," I say as I open the door to the empty hallway. Or at least it was supposed to be empty. Standing in front of me is a man whom I haven't seen in almost a month. The Proctor who tried to accuse me of cheating. What's he doing here?

"I said that I would show them the truth, you damned Devil," he whispers. What is he? Why do I feel so cold? What's happening? You Are Poisoned. Death Imminent. Seek Medical Attention. Poisoned? How? I look down to see a dagger stabbed into my belly. Oh, that's how. When did that get there? Well, that's not good. A sudden flashing pain sears through me as I double over. That's even worse. The Proctor looks down at me with hate-filled eyes.

"You are not worthy of being The Chosen One. Your death will prove that." Skill <Poison Res. > has Removed the Effects of the Poison. Took you long enough. The pain from the poison fades as I stand to meet him.

"You've made the biggest mistake in your life," I say as I pull the dagger out and hand it back to him.

"How… How are you still standing? He said… He told me… What are you?" he asks with fear.

"I'm The Chosen One," I [Lie] as I go to hit him. Before I can, he scrambles down the hallway and out of sight. As soon as he does, I catch myself on the wall. Ah fuck! I just got stabbed! Not the first time, but still not my favorite pastime, and it was coated with a strong poison, too. Thanks to the effects of [Poison Res.] I'm still standing, but by the Gods if it doesn't hurt. The cheering of the crowded arena echoes through the hallway. Foolproof plan? Should've known there was no such thing.

Guess I'm the fool here.

"Stabbed or not, it's time to put on a show," I say to myself as I walk towards the duel.