Max inspected his newly obtained weapon.
[Waveblade]
[This sword is made out of a special Dark Continent metal that can lengthen and bend, effectively becoming a long whip. It deals high blunt damage in whip form.]
He held the blue sword in his right hand and turned it into a long whip.
He was alone, outside the city, about to practice for a few hours. The breeze of the open plains pushed at his casual clothes.
He performed the basics and the advanced movements, footwork and attacks he had learned on his journeys. He was adamant about the basics: balance, pivoting, angles, everything.
Then he switched the whip to his left hand and took Virtonia in his right.
The whip was stronger than steel, yet flexible like rubber.
Large rocks were scattered across the clear grasslands around the city. Max swung the whip at one.
To his surprise, the lash dented the rock deeply. The whip was infused with his basic blue aura, and it gave his playstyle another way to attack. Its range was large.
He swung it more and more, getting used to the arm movement, careful not to hurt himself.
Booms, loud as explosions, cracked across the plain as the tip of the whip broke the sound barrier, bursting the air and releasing small shockwaves.
The sword could deal heavy sharp and blunt damage. It was a weapon for mega monsters and big enemies, and it could parry a titan's arm swing.
A while later, Max sat down and read through the sword's information again.
[Seaborne]
[All stats are increased by 10% while fighting on the sea and the sea's waves around you or your ship always calm down and flatten.]
[Water Breathing]
[You can breathe underwater indefinitely.]
[Hydranous Mark]
[Send out unavoidable tracking projectiles that mark one enemy which will weaken any and all defenses against your attacks significantly.]
[Complete the Maestro's quest for a great reward!]
Max caught himself grinning. He was starting to think he might do quite well in the tournament.
He turned the sword into a whip again and pulverized a big rock. Pebbles and fragments flew everywhere, along with a small dust explosion.
Max was no master swordsman, but he was decent at both single and dual wielding. Experience and occasional training with NPCs across the year made that possible.
He practiced for an hour more and went back.
Max walked back through the common Lower streets of Virtonis, which were crowded with people at all times. Bridges of the High streets partially blocked the sky now and then.
Some women wore wide-brimmed hats with a blue rose on the side, part of Virtonian fashion, while others were styled differently, possibly newcomers from elsewhere. People had moved to this metropolis from all corners of the world. It was the center of everything.
Men born and raised in Virtonis almost always wore a neckerchief with their casual clothes, which included shirts and a pullover. Other people wore something akin to togas, or occasionally even one-piece outfits.
The crowd held different races as well: people with naturally blue eyeliner, people with plus-shaped pupils, people with dark scleras and white pupils, people with Caucasian-like features, and people with darker skin, even bluish. More races stood out from the rest, subtly or not so subtly.
Down in Rinea, most of the people had Caucasian features, with very minor differences or none.
Max had spawned in this city, but it was still a complete novelty to him: so many people, sights, colorful buildings, street decorations, signs, furry flying animals that accompanied their owners, and so much more.
He stopped at a stall that sold fast food.
Max ordered an Imperon sandwich, made with meat from a frequently hunted bird monster that attacks farm animals and crops.
As a bald man behind the stall prepared the food, Max asked, "What do you know about Traviskan Virlosen?"
"That guy?" The man briefly paused his work.
"He is one of the most wanted men, gone for decades. No one has found traces of him. The reward is one item from the Emperor's treasury if he is found, dead or alive."
"Huh." Max frowned.
An item from the Emperor's treasury. He had been on a streak ever since he killed the Epic boss, and the tournament reward was also very attractive.
"Why do you ask? You met him or something?"
"Nah," Max said as he received his sandwich. "Thanks."
He paid up and started eating as he walked away. The six-foot-tall Max was swallowed by the moving crowd, and he headed toward his hotel, expecting the letter.
He was as ready as he could be. Two powerful weapons, the mysterious aura property, his armor, his stats and his skills probably made him one of the strongest first-floor beings.
Luckily, the tournament fights usually don't lead to death, Max thought.
Half an hour later, Max stood in front of an open restaurant, having decided to stop by before going to the hotel.
Its doors were slid open. Tables stood outside, right by the stone walkway, where people could bask in the city's vibrance, and more tables filled the cozy, comfortable interior.
Max stepped in. Art hung on the walls, and the floor was of dark wood. A woman stood at the bar, and a waiter served drinks to people sitting inside.
The brunette woman noticed him, and Max approached.
"Hey. Do you know where Mr. Panse is?" Max asked.
"Oh, he's in the storage room. He'll be here in a minute."
Max nodded and thanked her.
A few minutes went by, and a man came up from the basement storage room. He looked to be in his late thirties, with dark, full hair, a well-groomed beard and yellow eyes.
Panse frowned at Max, then raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Max?"
The two hugged and patted each other's backs.
"Hey, it's been a while," Max said.
"Yeah. You look... stronger?"
"Haha," Max said, grinning. "I'm a Higher now."
"No... You're joking."
"No, I'm not."
The two of them sat down.
"A tasquina, please! Two!" Panse called. "You wanna eat something?" he asked Max.
"Nah, let's just have a drink. How have you been?"
"Great. Family's good. You?"
"Oh, not much. Besides preparing to participate in the Imperial Tournament."
Panse stared at him.
"I want you to watch, friend. I'm going for the prize."
Panse nodded slowly. After a few moments, he asked, "Uh, how, man? What the hell happened since you left this place?"
"Way too much. I've basically crossed half the continent."
"From being a bartender here to now this... Congratulations, brother."
"Yeah, thanks. You'll wanna hear this..."