Chapter 213 213: Oliver's Decision!



The moment the Mountain Troll died, a transparent screen appeared in front of Val.

System Notification:

Congratulations, Host!

You've defeated a Level 50 Mountain Troll.

Rewards: 1,000 EXP, +5 Strength.

Val smiled, "My strength has finally crossed the 40 points mark."

Before the increase, Val's strength was at 33 points. After the 5 points increase, it surged to 38 points permanently, but it was temporarily at 42 points because of the bonus stats provided by the spirit sword.

Marshall's voice echoed throughout the coliseum, "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause for your winner for this round, Val!"

Whispers and cheers spread across the coliseum like wildfire.

"His method was unconventional, but it sure was educational," a woman remarked.

Using a live monster to demonstrate its weakness wasn't unheard of, but doing it while battling it sure was.

Not to mention, not many could stomach such a gruesome scene.

They were disgusted by the act.

However, those who lived on edge loved every second of it, with nothing but praises coming out of their mouths for Val.

"I don't think I'll ever fear a troll again, not after that display and the lesson he taught us," a young man said in praise of Val.

Another spectator chuckled, "Clea's fight ended faster, but this was way more entertaining. I'd pick Val's performance any day over young Master Clea's!"

A voice, clearly a supporter of Clea, retorted, "Young Master Clea showed true power and dominance. It's not about the theatrics!"

The first spectator fired back, "But it's about the impact! Clea might have the power, but Val has the brains and flair! Clea showed he can stand strong on his own, but Val gave us all a valuable lesson, allowing us to overhelm mountain troll if we encountered them."

It was clear Val was better than Clea. No one from the city lord manor's could deny this fact.

In a more secluded section of the spectator area, Lucious sat with a wide grin on his face, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"He've lived up to my expectations yet again. He has grown immensely since our last meeting. I guess he won't squander the chance I've provided."

The truth is, Lucious had organized this special event, all in the hope of aiding the "destiny child."

Many of his peers refused to believe that Val could be the foretold destiny child as he was Joshua's offspring, who had betrayed their faction.

But Lucious had long felt differently. He was convinced Val was the destiny child.

If Val truly was the destiny child, he would rise to the challenge and seize the opportunity against insurmountable odds. He would be the one to eradicate the seed of corruption, shatter the dimension, and attain the ultimate prize!

Marshall, taking in Lucious' reactions, remarked, "Now I finally grasp what you were hinting at."

Lucious simply smiled, "I had faith, and it seems it wasn't misplaced."

Meanwhile, Val effortlessly leaped from the arena, landing next to Oliver in the spectator area. He looked at his friend with a casual smirk, "Yo."

Oliver smiled, patting Val on the shoulder, "You were amazing back there! Congratulations on surpassing everyone's expectations and securing your spot in the expedition to the lesser dimension."

His eyes shone with admiration.

He was being genuinely happy for Val.

'Is it because we are now a family?' Val wondered, 'Or is he seriously just a good guy who finds genuine joy in the success of others?'

Whatever the case, one thing was sure.

Oliver was more or less as valuable a chess piece as Eliana.

While she could turn the tide in his favor with her sincerity, Oliver was his key to forming a close-knit connection with Lord Lucious and obtaining the ultimate power a wizard can wield - the power of a soul domain.

He was already a mid-rank wizard.

However, without Oliver's recommendation, he didn't know how hard it would be to get the family head of the Destiny Walkers to teach him the method to form the nascent soul.

However, if Oliver sides with him, it should be easier.

"Thanks for the congratulations." Val chuckled pleasantly. His laugh was like the singing of the birds. Whoever listened to it felt soothed and relaxed. Then he seriously looked at Oliver and asked, "What about you? Aren't you going to give it a try and join the expedition too? With your skills, I believe you will pass the test with flying marks."

Val had sparred with Oliver multiple times.

He knew Oliver had what it takes to pass the test introduced by Marshall and survive in a lesser dimension.

Exploring a lesser dimension was dangerous, but it was also a godsend opportunity. After all, there you could find items that could potentially change your life for the better, elevate you to a higher level of existence in a single breath like a miracle.

To narrow-minded people, it might seem like Val was cursing Oliver to death by expressing his desire to see him secure a spot in the expedition, but the truth was, he was just wishing him the best.

"A dimension run is hard to pass up on. I'll take the test once the ongoing battle between Rowan and that beast is over," Oliver replied.

Val directed his gaze towards the arena, where Rowan was locked in intense combat with a menacing beast.

Both combatants bore numerous injuries, marking their intense clash.

However, there was a stark contrast between the two: every injury on Rowan seemed to mend and heal rapidly, at a rate visible to the naked eye. In contrast, the beast's wounds only worsened, showing no sign of healing.

A single glance was enough for Val to realize that Rowan seemed to have a tactic in place.

He would willingly take a hit, ensuring in the process that the beast received one in return. This strategy was like a calculated trade-off: an injury for an injury. But what made it advantageous for Rowan was his remarkable self-healing bloodline skill. Each wound he received closed up shortly after, while the beast's did not, tipping the scale of the battle in his favor!

'Rowan's strategy, though risky, is crystal clear.'

Rowan would sustain damage, but he would simultaneously recover. On the other hand, the beast would just accumulate more and more damage. If this pattern continued, it was evident that Rowan would emerge as the victor.

'He is not only dealing damage but was also recovering from it, whereas the beast is not. So he will win. It is as straightforward as that.'

After concluding Rowan would win the battle, Val turned to Oliver and said, "I hope you will also do well in the test."

"I will," Oliver said confidently.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind them, "Oliver, participating in this special event might not be the wisest choice for you."

The voice sounded familiar like they had heard it before. Both Val and Oliver whirled around at the same time, coming face-to-face with Alex.

When did he appear there?

Theu were both taken aback as neither of them had sensed his approach, and the shock was evident on their faces.

"Why not?" Oliver asked after a moment.

"I overheard some nasty things while I waa strolling around the frontier. Trust me, you might want to sit this one out," Alex warned.

"What did you hear?" Oliver asked.

Alex looked around, hesitating for a moment, then said, "This isn't the place for such discussions. We should talk in private."

In response, Oliver quickly erected a sound-blocking barrier around them, ensuring their privacy. Seeing that Val was also within the barrier, Alex looked at Oliver questioningly and asked, "Are you sure about this?"

Oliver responded firmly, "He's family."

Val chimed in, "Yeah, I'm family. His problems are mine to shoulder too."

In his mind, Val acknowledged that he owed a lot to Oliver, but he wasn't taking his side just because of that. Oliver could prove to be helpful to him in many ways. Val didn't want to lose him, at least not before milking him of every advantage.

Alex took a deep breath before saying, "Your brother, Leon, is planning something unthinkable, and he's chosen Clea as his weapon to execute this plan. If you enter the lesser dimension, you'll be in grave danger."

"No way they'd go that far," Oliver said in disbelief.