Chapter 5: Thousand Styles Miles

The group is chatting and analyzing the parchments of magic paper. Tyr eyes pop open when he sees Thousand Styles Miles. A Human who will become Odyssey's undisputed number one Bladechampion. Tyr remembers his story since the beginning of his old Odyssey life. He used Thousand Styles Miles as his template. He will also be sponsored by one of the big nine in future.

These global superpower corporations are only supposed to start showing up after the first tournament. Tyr is surprised because part of the myth is that Thousand Styles Miles got to the seventh floor of the trial tower and was given a legendary Inheritence that allowed him to rise to the top. Tyr never thought that it would be here. Thousand Styles Miles never revealed the exact location. If Tyr guess is right it is because he must later find out the truth of Expeditionary Forces history.

"Hey Tyr why are smiling so much you know it's getting kind of creepy?" Says Nineth Immortal who is trying to see what Tyr is looking at. However, giving her height and the fact that in the hall she isn't allowed to fly. She can't make out what he is looking at.

"Exactly! Girl, I thought I was the only one who noticed. He was doing it early too after you'll arrive." Says Lux her blue tapestry matching closely to the dark blue scales of SKY Ocean Hunter.

"Yeah, man are you sure your okay. I know you are excited but doesn't your face hurt?" Says SKY Ocean Hunter producing a few chuckles from the group.

"Yeah, I'm just really glad we get to do this together. With all of you guys here I doubt we can fail," Tyr speaks earnestly even if they already ruined his first plan. This bunch of people have great potential and the Trial Tower is only going to give them an even better base. Before they have to go to the Water Goddesses Temple.

Stealing a look at Thousand Styles Miles Tyr stands ripping his parchment paper. A dazzling magic array appears beneath his feet which becomes even more flamboyant as the others follow suit.

A red-headed human says to Thousand Styles Miles, "Boss I saw them get those scrolls from the NPC at the counter maybe we should also try whatever they doing. It could be gold!"

Thousand Styles Miles says, "You just want to steal that Spirit girl, SoulStealer. Remember we are here on company business once we clear the Trail and find the sword of the War God. You can go play with those spirits."

Soulstealer licks his cracked lips and says, "that's only half of it, if the info the company gave us is correct I can bind non-corporeal beings after I kill them once."

Thousand Styles Miles rubs his eyes and says, "I don't care! My business comes first, I'm not paying you to fulfil your Syphon fantasy. This will determine my future as heir. I have paid a lot of money to get that information make sure you don't screw it up for a piece of low-grade tail."

SoulStealer snickers looking at the fading image of the Ethereal female spirit. To his surprise, she gives him the middle finger as she vaporizes away. SoulStealer can't help but smile.

First Floor of the Trial Tower

Tyr the human, appears first he is dressed in a form-fitting brown leather suit covered by light armour. In the middle is the seven-pointed star logo of the Expeditionary Force. Sky Ocean Hunter the Naga appear with a similar crest directly in his chest and a large staff. Tatiana the half-giant is wearing a similar suit to Tyr only the metal is large not because she is a half-giant but because she is wearing the medium armour version. With her blue skin and hair, it contrasts the dark steel in a pleasing manner. Her staff has the seven-pointed star at its tip.

"These are fucken amazing at a minimum they doubled all my physical stats." Says Tatiana now that it's just Tyr, her and Sky Ocean Hunter she feels free to speak. She has always been shy around other girls.

"Yeah these suits are pretty amazing, it is a shame they are quest armour," says SKY Ocean Hunter, looking at him Tatiana is a little confused besides the symbol of the seven-pointed star on his chest she doesn't see anything resembling armour. Suddenly A red elf appears and Tatiana moves away from SKY Ocean Hunter.

Her earlier tapestry has been replaced with the light leather suit without metal pieces found on the others. Lux looking around says, "Damn I hope to get some daggers, it seems the system thinks I'm more suited for short swords." Blood Elves unlike their High Elf/ Wood Elf/ Dark Elf counterparts are separated from the Great Green and rather get their power from The Bloody Star Hterbo. A powerful star created through the sacrifice of several realms to the Great Alchemist Therbo a Demigod existence said to be the child of a god. The link with The Bloody Star is a powerful asset for the Blood Elves allowing them to innately use blood magic.

"I know Chikita, just look at these fangs the system gave me." Says Styx appearing in the middle of everyone as if he has always been there. His Guider form seems to have grown two large blades from his forearms that extend just beyond his hands giving him about a daggers reach. Frey also appearing runs her finger along his blade. Shocked Styx says, "Mi Amor, I can feel you through the blades these are amazing. What's that floating behind you?"

Frey's entire body has adopted a much deeper red and from inside her, the seven-pointed golden star shines. Frey says, "It's my weapon silly since I can't deal any physical damage that is my version of a staff."

Tyr purposefully says, "It looks so much like a Shuriken." While it's true that her weapon is meant for shooting spells she can also shoot the star directly to deal physical damage it's just that he wants her to figure that out.

A large red, blue and green spinning star opens up in front of them and a handsome person walks out. They are all mesmerized by their beauty. The soft feature makes it impossible to tell if they are male or female. Plus the liquid metal mask moves covering at least half the face at all times.

When the being speaks it sounds as if the voice is everywhere and nowhere basically a loud whisper. "Welcome Risha, this trail will test if you are worthy to join the Expeditionary Force."

Tyr tries to see the information of the being everything in their bio is unreadable. Tyr asks, "Honored elder may we have the honour of knowing your name?" Tyr knows that management Npc's in the Expeditionary Force are at least Rank Five making them top tier existences of this realm since the king of the largest empire on this continent is only a Rank Four Holy Knight.

They look over at Tyr and gently nods, "I'm first speaker Ramata, of the Sixth hundred and eighty-seventh Expeditionary Squad."

Tyr takes a step back shaking. The various squads of the Expeditionary Force are lead directly by a Speaker who acts as the squads' voice to their Commander. This being is a leader amongst powerful beings. The reason he was shocked is because why would such existence be administering the Trail Tower test themselves. In the past, it should have just been a quest window that pops up.

Tyr bows respectfully and says, "We are a newly formed party who hopes to join the Expeditionary Force First Speaker Ramata, what must we do to pass the test to the highest standard?" Tyr like any gamer knows that if you meet an Npc's as special as this. There is usually more going on than meets the eye. He is hoping that he can secure some extra rewards. In his old life, the central doctrine of Odyssey was a riddle.

Ramata looks at all of them, they all feel as if Ramata is staring into their souls. Ramata says, "you all have the potential to become great members especially since you'll have not been tainted by this world yet. I will give you all two options. The first is to take the normal trial. It is by no means easy and the rewards have created many legends in your world. However, given your special circumstance, you are also eligible for the specialist Trail." Her tone is hard as stone yet flows like water. The others are all excited but Tyr knows exactly what she means.

In his last life, people learnt that certain old organizations have specific requirements but the most difficult of all are those that only appear to have level zero characters. This is because the trial will take advantage of the first reward. All players first reward be it experience, items or legacies will be improved by four ranks. This is how the first batch of unique classes, special lifestyle paths or even inheritances are acquired. In his old life, the most famous was Twin Demons aka Free Breeze. She will find two cursed magical swords after killing a level five boss while she is level zero.