The Grand Duelist

Chapter 6: Infinite Regret

The Divine Sword Sect located at the center of the Kingdom of Nether looked out of place. This was what Joseph thought when he saw that there stood a huge mountain at the center of the kingdom. Everything within the mountain and around its base belonged to the Divine Sword Sect.

Apart from the huge gate that surrounded the entire mountain, one would think that there was nothing special within the mountain since Joseph could only see a bunch of trees beyond the gate. He couldn't see any building or something that would specify that the area was inhabited. 

"Lily, where is the Divine Sword Sect?" Joseph asked and Lilibeth turned to look at him as if she was saying: "How are you so natural on calling me as Lily, don't you feel embarrassed?" But in the end, she maintained her cold look as she replied.

"Don't be fooled, you will understand everything once you get inside." She said before handing over a letter to Joseph.

"If that drunkard Juzo doesn't believe what you said, then show him this letter." 

Joseph received the letter.

[The Great Magician's Letter of Recommendation]

Show this letter to anyone that doubts you within the Divine Sword Sect and they will instantly trust your words

(Note: You must not casually take advantage of this letter, you must act in a manner that wouldn't bring shame to the name of the Great Magician!)]

"Take care now... I don't know when we will meet each other again, but when we do meet once again. I hope that you will be stronger than you are today." Lily snapped her middle and index finger together and Joseph's scenery rapidly changed.

When he realized what happened, he found himself standing before the gates of the Divine Sword Sect. 

The world of Victory was harsh and ever-changing. There was no such thing like customer service in this game so players must move using their own common sense and adapt according to the changes happening in the world.

Players weren't the only ones that had the capability of changing the world.

The NPCs also had those capabilities, such as the King of a Kingdom or a powerful Supreme Magician. They had the power to change the world, and players had to adapt to those changes. One of those changes were the existence of Sects.

Back when Victory was first established two years ago. These sects didn't exist and the Kingdom of Nether unified the entire continent under its banner. But due to wars and the actions of powerful NPCs...

Everything changed, two more Kingdoms were born and Sects governed by godly NPCs were established.

One of them was the Divine Sword Sect. Players that possessed the Mercenary Main Class often registered themselves as members of the Divine Sword Sect. It was because each of the four main classes only gave the basics of skills necessary for a mercenary.

If players wanted to acquire other skills, or if they wanted to expand their skill tree. They needed the help of skill books, or the acquisition of a second-class.

There were four main classes in Victory. These main classes only established the foundation of a player's path. It never determined the path of the players. Since Victory pursued realism, it had a vast number of second-classes available to the general public. 

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Even the developers of the game itself weren't so sure about the number of second-classes available in the game for the players. Only the Supercomputer Noah who regulated the entire world knew about the answer.

Of course, even though realism was the strong point of Victory, it was still a game in the end.

And since a game was meant to be enjoyed. The barrier in utilizing classes wasn't set so high so that people could still enjoy the game properly without sacrificing precious time on understanding their second-classes.

Joseph had the Mercenary Main Class, and so. It was just right that he entered the Divine Sword Sect. But the problem was that most players that entered the Divine Sword Sect were at least Level 50. It was unthinkable that a Level 1 could enter the vicinity of the Divine Sword Sect.

Thankfully, the coast remained clear as Joseph studied the terrain of the Divine Sword Sect. But this tranquility only lasted for a few minutes before a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect spotted him.

"Hey kid, what are you doing here?" 

Joseph trembled in shock and nervousness. He kept his footsteps silent and he hung his head low and even used the surroundings so that he could hide his body from the passing disciples.

But in the end, the capabilities of the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect exceeded his expectations and a disciple spotted him in just a few minutes.

"This disciple greets Senior Brother. I am just exercising." Joseph eyed the youth and found that a green inverted triangle was floating above his head. It was a sign that the young man was an NPC. 

Clad in white with a sword on his waist, the youth really looked like the perfect example of a Sect Disciple that Joseph frequently found within the wuxia and xianxia books that he read back then.

Since Joseph had a lot of experience regarding Sects due to the books that he read, he also knew how to properly send his greetings. 

"You're lying." 

The Sect Disciple said and Joseph gulped a mouthful of saliva. Since he was just at Level 1. It was impossible for him to defeat or escape from the lowest Sect Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect. 

"Why is Senior Brother saying that I am lying? I'm really exercising..." Joseph even made a live demonstration in front of the Sect Disciple by moving his waist in circles and doing some jumping jacks.

"You're not a Disciple of my Divine Sword Sect, just how did you enter here, you thief!" The Sect Disciple suddenly unsheathed his sword and glared right at Joseph. 

"Wait, calm down. Violence cannot solve everything and I also have this!" Joseph took the Recommendation Letter that Lilibeth gave to him and handed it over to the Sect Disciple. 

"Oh, you're someone that the honorable Great Magician recommends? Why did you not show me this earlier? Dang it, I apologize for what I did fellow brother." The Sect Disciple's attitude suddenly turned around and he now acted amiably towards Joseph.

"That's not a problem, brother. We're all civilized people in here after all."

"Yeah, right. But I think that you must definitely show that letter immediately towards those that doubt your abilities or those that are causing any problems against you. In that way, we could avoid the possible offense of sacrilege against the Great Magician and we would have another friend too!"

Joseph felt strange about the sudden change in attitude, but he took the letter back from the Sect Disciple before he said: "Can you help and guide me over to Juzo, brother? Li- ah, the Great Magician told me that I must meet him once I arrive at the Divine Sword Sect." 

The Sect Disciple nodded his head with a smile: "That is not a problem. This way, brother." 

Joseph sincerely thanked the Sect Disciple. Now that he had a guide, he finally didn't have to act so low-key and move slowly around the Divine Sword Sect.

He even found that the Sect Disciple who intercepted him earlier actually had some status within the Sect, since those who met him bowed their heads and made a road for the two of them to use as they went deeper into the mountain of the Divine Sword Sect.

In just a few minutes, the two of them arrived before the humble abode of Juzo. 

"Wow, this strong smell of alcohol is..." Joseph frowned when he noticed the strong smell coming out of Juzo's house. 

"Elder Juzo, someone that the Great Magician recommends is here to meet you!" The Sect Disciple cried out before disappearing without even saying his farewell towards Joseph.

"Huh?! Someone that the Great Magician recommends? In that case, that bastard should be strong, eh?" Deep and loud footsteps echoed within the house. The footsteps were so heavy that Joseph could feel the earth underneath him shaking every time those footsteps rang out.

When the figure within the house finally revealed himself, the strong smell of unrefined alcohol intensified to the extent that Joseph had to step back. 

"Is that a person?" Joseph thought to himself when he saw the gigantic figure of Juzo. The gigantic and fatty Juzo still had a jug of alcohol on his hand while his free hand held his gigantic greatsword.

"You're the one that the Great Magician recommends? In that case, show me that you're worthy of her recommendation!" 

[The Great Magician's Recommendation's difficulty is updated from (F) to (SS)] 

[The Great Magician's Recommendation] 

Quest Difficulty: SS

You caught the attention of the Great Magician Lilibeth. She recommends that you go towards the Divine Sword Sect and present yourself to Juzo, who will lead you the way once he knew that you came due to the Great Magician's Recommendation.

Quest Clear Conditions: Be acknowledged by Juzo.

Juzo, the renowned good for nothing and drunkard of the Divine Sword Sect. Although despised by everyone, his skills are the real deal. He may look brash and tough, but his heart is made of cotton and easily moved.

Quest Rewards: Become a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect. A status envied by everyone.

(Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect) - Everyone, including commoners and nobles would be amiable towards you. It will  be easier for you to find jobs and your affinity with some members of royalty and specific commoners would rise.

Quest Failure: Kicked out of the Divine Sword Sect.

You are no longer able to enter the Divine Sword Sect.

Any disciple of the Divine Sword Sect will be disgusted at you and openly mock you.]

"Be recognized by Juzo, this fatty is Juzo?!" Joseph stared at the gigantic fatty and found at least three additional Health Bars under Juzo's current Health Bar.

In short, this monster of an NPC had four Health Bars in total!

In comparison, the Great Magician in the Festival of Battles didn't have that much Health Bars!

"Damn that Great Magician, she sent me to my death!" Joseph resigned to his fate and just closed his eyes. He didn't think that being a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect was worth his efforts.

After all, Victory didn't only revolve around Sects.

In this world, you could become whatever you wanted.

Why would you restrict yourself to some Sect?

Bang!

[Your Health has dropped to the minimum. Death is impossible in Duel Mode.]

[You failed the Quest: The Great Magician's Recommendation.]

[The Divine Sword Sect is now hostile to you]

[You are kicked out of the Divine Sword Sect]

[You lost the Item, "The Great Magician's Letter of Recommendation."]

[As compensation for losing an item of great value. You are given a random item in return.]

[Acquired: Juzo's Favorite and Beloved Jug of Beer~]

When Joseph opened his eyes, he found himself standing before the gates of the Divine Sword Sect. Bitterly smiling, he turned around and walked away in anger. He swore to himself that he would never associate himself with these crazy bastards from the Divine Sword Sect that wouldn't even wait until someone gave them an explanation about something.

"Directly attacking someone that didn't even challenge you, does that even make sense?" Joseph wanted to cry but no tears came out of his eyes. Only bitterness and anger lingered in his heart as he slowly made his way, away from the Divine Sword Sect, afraid that the hostile disciples of the Divine Sword Sect may stumble upon him.

But inside the Divine Sword Sect...

When Joseph died, he dropped a letter that Juzo picked up and opened. 

[Juzo, the bearer of this letter is someone that I recommend to you as the successor of that style of yours. After all, I know that you don't have much time left...]

[Right now, he's weak and maybe timid. But if he knew that he had a sliver of chance on succeeding in something. This kid's determination is unbelievably vast. Take care of him and train him well.] 

Juzo violently tore the letter open as he screamed out loud in anger and frustration.

"Why did you not show me this letter as soon as possible when you arrived?!" His shout rang throughout the entire Divine Sword Sect and afterwards. Juzo's gigantic figure turned into a blur.

He rapidly dashed towards the direction of the gates of the Divine Sword Sect, but when he arrived. Joseph wasn't there anymore.

Infinite regret filled his heart...