Awakened: Evolving to Godhood

Chapter 26: Costly

It didn’t take more than a few minutes for Elliot and John to get to the Virtual Cabin Hall as it was just several meters behind the Main Building where students are taught about different subjects, just near the edges of the Emerald Mountain. It was a dome-shaped building of white color. Gentle lights indistinguishable from moonlight illuminated the interior of the Virtual Cabins Hall.

“Hey guys, are you guys here to play, too?”

Just as they were about to enter it, a voice sounded from behind them.

They turned to look at the source of the voice and saw that it was someone familiar.

It was Theo!

They came across Theo right when they were about to enter the Virtual Cabin Hall.

What a coincidence!

“Yeah,” John replied, implying it is as he said.

“Me too,” Theo said, his words signifying that he was also here to have fun in the magic coliseum.

“Wanna hang out together?” Elliot asked as he looked at Theo.

“Sure, why not?” Theo said, taking steps to come closer to them.

They entered the Virtual Cabin Hall. Elliot marveled at the sight of it. Theo and John, on the other hand, have visited such places like this many times as they belonged to rich, mysterious, and powerful magician families, allowing them to enjoy the luxuries of life.

“There sure are a lot of people here.”

“The Magic Coliseum is just that popular among magicians.”

The first and second years students crowded the dome-shaped interior of the hall. Many cabins were placed here and there with a small distance in between for people to walk through. There was a man at the counter in the center of the room, selling refreshments, tokens to access the game world, and a ton worth of junk food.

“I have been talking about this place. You can access the game world by using one of these cabins.” John said while pointing at the Virtual cabins, and he then pointed at the man dressed in black standing a few meters away from them before speaking, “And to use these, we’ll need to purchase Gladiator Time from the man at the counter.”

“That, I understand. How does this thing work, though?” Elliot asked as he touched the smooth surface of the virtual cabin.

“The Virtual Cabin determines the level of a magician by examining their magic energy capacity. The Charlotte family specifically made the Gladiator Coliseum for a Magician to Fight Magician of equal level to train themselves and become stronger. The matchmaking system always matches the magicians in the first five levels against magicians in the first five levels of any evolutionary stage. Similarly, level 6 to 10 magicians fight against level 6 to 10 magicians. The creators of this game implemented this matchmaking system to make it so that powerful magicians wouldn’t be able to bully the weaker ones and take advantage of the betting scene.” Theo answered, explaining the working of the game world to Elliot.

“Match selections are determined based on the level of the individual. For example, if you are a level one magician, you will almost always fight against a magician in the first five levels of the magical realm. Did I get it right?” Elliot said, looking at his newfound friends with bright eyes.

“You did,” Theo answered with a smile.

“I am only at the third level of the magician realm evolutionary stage while the two of you are in the sixth and the tenth level. Doesn’t that mean we won’t be able to play together!” Elliot said.

Although his combat level was far powerful than level 3, the capsule determined magician level according to their evolutionary stage, and he was still in the third level of the Magical Realm. The matchmaking system will be put him in a different arena than them. He won’t be able to play with them as his level was too low.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Theo said.

“There’s no way around it, either,” John added.

“I see,” Elliot said, feeling a bit sad.

“Don’t feel bad. We can still hang out together in the game, spectating and betting on others. Or you can spectate me fighting other people.” Theo offered a few choices to Elliot.

“That sounds like a good idea. You’ll easily win with your abilities. It will be an easy win if we just bet on you.” Elliot’s eyes brightened in glee.

He knew that Theo isn’t only a Half-Elven but also someone who possesses multiple abilities. His teleportation and wood abilities were already enough to defeat everyone else in the Magical realm, but he also had more abilities. One more powerful than the other. Elliot was certain that Theo wouldn’t lose, at least not against level 6 to level 10 magicians whether or not they have awakened an ability.

“Even I must say that’s true,” John said, knowing full-well that Theo was the second strongest magician of the magical realm according to the official records.

“Haha. Stop praising me.” Theo said with a laugh as they walked towards the man at the counter.

A moment later, they reached the counter.

“Hey man, we would like to purchase three gaming tokens.”

Theo said to the man at the counter, telling him that he would like to purchase three tickets.

“Gladiator Time?” The man in black asked in a monotone voice that could only belong to a robot as he looked at Theo.

“4 hours for all three tokens,” Theo said as he handed out his quantum card to the man in black, planning to pay for all three of them.

“3 hours is the limit.” Robot Frankie said.

A magician of the academy could only play for at most 3 hours a day no matter how much money they have on their hand. Of course, this only applied to people who couldn’t afford a Virtual Cabin for themselves. A single one cost 100000 magic coins, so there was no way a sane teenager would purchase it just to play for more than 3 hours a day.

“Than three hours it is,” Theo replied in a cool voice.

“It will cost 90 Magic Coins each for three hours of Gladiator Time.” Robot Frankie said.

Elliot’s eyes widened in shock as he was taken aback by his words.

The amount mentioned by the man was one-third of his total savings!