Healing System

Chapter 232 Tournament Preparations

[Michael's POV]

"You really are something else, aren't you, Kai?" Michael exclaimed with a soft smile, looking down at the island, which by now, was in total tatters.

Over the course of three days, Kai managed to not only defend himself from the monsters, but also kill several of them.

If that wasn't enough, Kai even managed to break through into Tier 2, which was definitely a considerable improvement in under a week.

Even Michael himself did not manage to accomplish such a feat.

Nonetheless, it was time for a break—or more like, for them to actually start their preparations.

Elder Li mentioned that the tournament would be happening soon, and whether due to a stroke of luck or something else entirely, this year's tournament was being held in their sect.

That also meant they needed to thoroughly prepare a battle arena and many other necessities.

During that time, Michael also found out the format of the tournament, which was simply a duel-style climbing ladder until eventually, a winner from one of the four sects was decided.

With that, he also found out that each sect needed to send out four people, so if he included himself, Kai, and lastly, Hu Rong, they would need an extra somebody.

However, that's where the main issue arose, since aside from the elders, no one else had any actual fighting talent—most just swung their swords around for the heck of it.

Safe to say, he was conflicted.

'Who could I pick?' Michael thought absentmindedly while floating down and picking up the unconscious Kai, before swiftly flying back to the sect.

Along the way, he searched through the streets, trying to find an outsider he could recruit, but as he did that, a single rule popped back into his mind.

'No external recruits one week before the tournament.'

He was lucky to join the sect a day before this period started, therefore, there was nothing to worry about in that regard.

But still, the lack of a fourth person was a bit alarming, since if they were even lacking a single person for the tournament, they would be automatically disqualified.

And if he actually wanted to prove a point by getting the wealth of his entire sect back, then he needed an overwhelming victory.

All wins—not a single loss for each Golden Dragon sect disciple.

It seemed doable, at least from what he noticed from Kai and Hu Rong.

Even if Hu Rong hid his strength, Michael was able to spot him diligently training at night, and to say that Hu Rong's swordsmanship was good was simply an understatement.

He could cut through leaves, rocks, boulders, and trees as though through butter—not even leaving a single mark of force on the objects he cut.

Michael could try replicating it with sheer strength, but that single mark of force would still exist.

However, as he flew through his sect and set Kai down on a nearby tree branch, he spotted another kid off in the distance, training his swordsmanship.

Strength-wise, he was even worse than Kai, but from the technique, Michael could notice that he had potential.

Therefore, he silently walked up to him and exerted a bit of his mana, trying to gauge a reaction from the kid.

But to his dismay, or more like, disappointment, the kid did not react.

Even as he portrayed more and more malice—enough to knock out most Tier 1s and 2s—the kid did not react.

That meant, he was either an idiot, or he simply could not feel the mana Michael was emitting.

'Looks like a dud,' Michael sighed before turning away, but as he did that, a similar amount of pressure was reflected back onto him, momentarily surprising him.

And when he turned around, he spotted the kid staring at him with golden eyes similar to his own.

'System?' Michael wondered what was going on.

Seems like a monster. You should kill it, the system answered shockingly.

Nonetheless, his confusion was still as great as ever. 'What do you mean, a monster?'

It's a mimic or doppelganger, similar to the one I used to fight you back then. This one is just a bit more interesting since it takes over the person's body and lives inside of it.

Michael raised his brow. 'So how and why exactly could it copy what I did?'

It reacts to mana. Honestly, you should just kill it now, the system insisted.

But he had a better idea in mind.

Turning towards the doppelganger, Michael spoke, "Do you understand what I am saying?"

It nodded and replied in a childish voice, "Yes, strong human."

"Great, I'll give you two choices then," Michael said with a soft smile, before continuing.

"The first choice is simple—die here and now. How does that sound?"

He was met with a panicked shake of the head from the monster; therefore, he offered his second choice.

"Alright, now the second choice is to participate in the tournament along with me and a few others. I feel like that's a bit better than dying, don't you think?"

You are trying to employ a monster; are you out of your mind? the system questioned with disbelief, earning a shrug from Michael in response.

'Do you have a better idea? It would fix the problem of us not having enough people, while at the same time, giving a strong contender.'

Now that just sounds like stupidity at its finest point, but hey, I won't stop you. If the monster goes on a killing spree, it's all on you after all.

Michael rolled his eyes. 'If need be, I'll kill it. Now would you stop nagging me so much?'

Go ahead. I am curious how you will handle this one.

'Of course.' He turned back to look at the monster, who for some reason, was staring at Michael with a conflicted look.

"What's wrong? Are the choices I gave you not up to your standards?" he asked, and surprisingly, received a nod in response.

"Well... it seems like you need me more than I need you, so killing me would not really be in your best interest, am I wrong?" it said, putting a shocked look on Michael's face.

'So it's not stupid at all.'

Clearing his throat, he snapped his fingers, and immediately, hundreds of miniature golden swords appeared all around the monster's neck, circling it.

"Do you think you are in any position to negotiate with me?" Michael questioned in a cold tone.

"Am I not? You need me, don't you?" The monster replied with a smug, ominous smile.

Immediately, Michael brought down his hand and cut off each and every single one of the monster's limbs, leaving stumps that did not even bleed.

But before it could even scream, he suddenly brought down his sword and cut its head off.

However, as its shocked eyes were staring at him with its head falling down, Michael suddenly grabbed hold of it.

"You are expendable," he stated and placed its head back onto its body before performing several heals, seemingly bringing back the luster it once had in its eyes.

Just this time, there was an extra something called fear—immense fear at the person who a few seconds ago had killed it.

"Let me ask you this again," Michael gazed straight into the monster's eyes before continuing, "Which choice will you make, the first, or the sec—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, the monster bowed down onto the ground and shouted, "The second! Please spare me!"

Michael nodded in satisfaction and desummoned each and every single one of his swords before asking, "What is the extent of your copying ability?"

"...I can copy something as long as I know its general structure and mana usage, but even then, it's not going to be as powerful as the thing I am copying—merely one-fifth of the strength, I'd say."

"That's good enough," Michael stated and summoned a single sword of light before handing it over to the monster.

"Can you replicate this?"

The monster gazed at him before putting its full attention on the sword.

Michael watched with anticipation as it started mumbling something under its breath, while at the same time, his sword began pulsating with a golden glow.

He did not think much of it and continued watching until eventually, the monster stopped and handed him back the sword.

"Are you done?" Michael questioned with a raised brow, finding it hard to believe that it was able to copy Sword of Light in less than a minute.

But soon, he was left speechless.

The monster stretched out its arm, and soon, a dim yet still golden sword appeared—lacking the power of Michael's, yet still good enough to be used in battle.

If he had to guesstimate, then the sword was roughly the strength of the first Sword of Light he had formed back when he was still Tier 1.

Which, by normal standards, was still fairly impressive.

However, the Sword of Light suddenly dissipated, with the monster looking exhausted.

"I can only do it for a short amount of time until I get used to using your mana signature... I apologize."

Michael nodded in response. He wasn't disappointed. "It's alright, you still have four more days until the tournament, so by then, I hope you can be of use."

He trailed off and approached the monster.

"Because if you aren't... then I assume you can imagine the consequences."

The monster audibly gulped in response before sending another bow his way.

"...Understood."

Demon.

'Your bored and jealous side is coming out.' Explore stories at empire