Chapter 431: Slippery Serpent
Spirit Grape Wine—
a high-grade consumable exclusive to Moonlight Tavern that rapidly restores energy.
Because the ingredients are rare and brewing is troublesome, its production is limited.
A single glass costs 20,000 contribution points and is often used as a hard currency.
"The rules are simple. Whichever chosen new player climbs to the top of the points ranking wins this round."
Sothia smiled as she explained, "The losers must pay the winner ten times the value of their wagered assets."
In other words, there would only be one winner from start to finish.
The leaderboard reflected the points gained by players during their initial trial as they hunted corrupted monsters.
The monsters' point values weren't based on level, but instead scaled to the new player's strength.
Even a weak mortal could earn points if they managed to kill something of similar power.
That meant,
if the venomous soul-dragon chose to hunt low-level monsters, it might not gain any points at all.
This ranking tested a player's potential and combat capability. PvP was strictly forbidden.
That's why all the elite players from various factions had gathered—to recruit the newcomers they favored.
Moreover,
there was a catch: the stronger the newcomer, the higher the bet cost for the sponsoring veteran player.
For instance, Terumi Mei's pick—the black-haired boy—wasn't particularly powerful, so her bet cost around 40,000 contribution points.
But the venomous soul-dragon?
Akainu had to pay a hefty 100,000 points to place his bet.
"After all, even if not absolute, stronger newcomers tend to have higher potential and combat ability."
If Akainu lost, he'd owe the winner a million contribution points.
That was the thrill of the Moonlight Tavern's leaderboard—a paradise or a pitfall in a single roll of the dice.
More than once,
an average human had burst forth with unimaginable potential and surpassed powerful beings right out of the gate.
Some sponsors lost everything betting on the wrong one.
That's why they were all cautious.
Every wager was a gamble.
"To possess an elemental soul form—wherever they're from, they were undoubtedly powerful."
Akainu said confidently, smiling coldly. "Anyone who fought their way to the top in their world can't possibly be weak. Even with the same starting line, they'll rise above the rest and take the lead."
It was a high-stakes gamble, but Akainu was unshaken.
The Navy's intelligence department had long since analyzed trends from Moonlight Tavern's ranking events,
estimating each newcomer's likely potential.
Generally speaking,
newcomers from the Imperial Arms, Claymore, and Demon Slayer worlds were relatively weak.
Most were ordinary civilians with no powers or even basic combat training.
When dropped into the [Dungeon World], many panicked and fled at the first monster encounter.
Only a few stood out—
like Imperial Arms users, Silver-Eyed Witches, disguised demons, or Demon Slayer Corps members.
These had some skills and could adapt to the battlefield and grow quickly.
Whitebeard, for example, hit the jackpot.
He recruited a young man named Will from the Imperial Arms world—
a user of the Noble Chariot, an armor-type Imperial Arm.
A simple and honest youth fresh from a port town.
If Whitebeard hadn't acted fast, the kid might've joined Esdeath's [Jaegers] instead.
"Gurarararara! I won't lose—just you wait!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, full of confidence in his pick.
His charisma transcended worlds.
In this multiverse madness, he was recruiting "sons" left and right.
After the Demon Slayer Corps pledged themselves to his pirate crew, Whitebeard's forces skyrocketed.
Several new players with immense potential had joined his ranks.
This time, his chosen newcomer was from [Demon Slayer Town],
a recently revived member of the corps—Kanae Kocho, sister of Shinobu.
Akainu glanced at him with disdain.
"Hmph. Relying on your troll-like charm again, old man?"
But he wasn't worried.
He had bet on an elemental lifeform—and a dragon at that.
Crushing victory.
"Everyone, calm down and enjoy the match."
Sothia sighed inwardly as she prevented the players from erupting into chaos.
They were like volatile barrels of gunpowder, always one spark from exploding.
Only Lord Fang Yi could keep them in check.
Humm—
Blinding white light enveloped the newly summoned players.
All of them, fully briefed on the Reincarnation Game's rules, vanished one by one.
They were scattered across the first floor of the Tower of Death, like grains of sand across a vast desert.
"What a strange place… Damn traitors—Fat Catfish! Lobster! Twin-Shell Turtle! And Bubble… You'll all pay!"
The soul-condensed venom-dragon looked around in disbelief—then delight.
It was called Slippery Serpent.
From a world of water—an endless ocean realm populated by aquatic creatures.
The strongest being in that world had been a True Dragon. Slippery Serpent had once served it loyally.
But after the dragon's death, the serpent's ambition grew.
It stole the dragon's horns, hoping to become the next true dragon and rule the seas.
In the end, it was defeated by a smelly carp spirit who'd gathered five dragon scales.
Just before death, it sensed the call of the Reincarnation Game and accepted without hesitation.
Its horns were destroyed,
its poisonous fangs lost,
even its body obliterated.
But its soul survived.
And it now possessed the ability of venom liquefaction.
"Hunt corrupted monsters to get loot and points?"
Slippery Serpent swayed its tail.
Despite its damaged soul and formless body, it refused to give up its dragon dreams.
Two decorative horns of poison materialized on its head—
a symbol of its unyielding will to become a True Dragon once more.
"Wait for me, Bubble…
One day, I'll cover the Water Realm in Thornblossom blooms!"
It gritted its fangs and slithered forward.
All around it, bubbling magma radiated special energy.
Crimson light reflected off its ghostly form, making its entire soul itch.
They called it "Slippery Serpent" because…
after stealing the dragon horns, it had been cursed by the True Dragon.
Boils covered its body like scabs, causing unbearable, unending itchiness.
The curse sank deep—into its bones, into its very soul.
Even without flesh, it still suffered.
Crack.
The crystallized black magma shattered.
A blackened hand burst forth from the earth.
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