Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

"Today, we marked the 40th year since the Emergence plunged and brought a great change in our world. This brought sorrow as billions of lives were taken away from us. But this also brought us endless opportunities; System, the guide that was granted to everyone from seven years of age and above; Mana, the power that enhanced our bodies to its utmost limit, removing the binds to us which is what we know as 'diseases'; Technological Advancement, where Air Trains powered by Magic Stones were born, and priceless Portal Gates that could transport us in the blink of an eye. There are too many things that changed since the Emergence when the 'Old World' was destroyed. But as humans, no matter what kind of destruction comes our way, we always find our way to stand back up...!"

...

'Where are they?'

Amery Blight — who was sitting on one of the seats situated across the entire 'Obelisk Grand Stadium' that has a size of at least 45 to 50 meters in length and 7 to 9 meters in width excluding the seats — thought in confusion, because it was already 9:30 AM and it's already been 30 minutes since the Opening Ceremony about the Emergence Anniversary started, but Freya and Amelie Rose weren't in their seats.

Every class section has a designated area for seats during the ceremony.

'There are too many people.'

Amery's expression distorted with the sight of the crowd, trying to locate the assigned seats for A-11 students where Russell Moon, Freya's brother was sitting, but after a few seconds of looking around the crowd, she didn't find him, too, causing her thoughts to jump randomly elsewhere.

"Here you are!"

Amelie's voice was heard by Amery, prompting her to look to her right side, there she saw Amelie and Freya walking towards her. She felt comfortable and glad for some inexplicable reasons.

But a notification sounded in her ears, it was the 'Blood Instinct' unique skill that she has, causing her to frown and somewhat feel dejected as she read the System message.

[This 'Target' does pose a danger to you!]

Her Unique Skill was automatically triggered as she looked at Freya, walking beside Amelie before each of them took their seats.

Confusion and questions surged in her mind as she felt that she was being left out about something, then at that moment, Amelie tapped Freya's shoulder, hinting something.

Amery watched it in silence, then her confused state turned to a mix of bizarreness because of another System notification she received.

[This 'Target' does NOT pose a danger to you!]

'What??'

Amery didn't know, but Amelie Rose reminded Freya at that moment to edit her 'Status Window' back to normal to avoid suspicions with others' prying eyes.

Although the 'Blood Instinct' activated only in a close range, she barely questions it when it comes to other people, especially if she didn't know them personally, but with her 'companions' triggering her unique skill, she's starting to believe that there's something they couldn't tell her...

'Maybe I should tell them about me...?'

'What would they think of it if ever...?'

'But, it's my family's will...'

After deliberating for some time, she abandoned the possibility.

...

In the middle of the Obelisk Grand Stadium a woman with purple eyes, platinum hair, button nose, and stature befitting of a model was standing, speaking about the history of Emergence, what changed from the past forty years, and so on. Almost everyone turned agape with her bearing especially the men who have that kind of desire, though it was mainly because of her Constellation, 'Witch of Dream' Authority that lets her exude a charming aura that corrodes one's psyche. She's great at suppressing it which means that most people who looked at her with sexual malice are probably attracted by her beauty and body.

It was Ayleen Mayfield, the A-1 class professor in the Mana Theory subject for the first years.

As she speaks, she was looking at the first-year A-1 designated seats, specifically, at the woman with auburn hair, brown eyes, and wearing gold-rimmed eyeglasses that are out of place in this era where eye diseases are nonexistent. Her thoughts were split, but lucid at the same time.

It was Samantha Hall!

A few days ago, Professor Murak Hart told Ayleen about what happened in the Virtual War, an activity in Player Physical Education class. Although Professor Murak only told her about it and the issue wasn't raised with the higher-ups, it piqued her interest, especially when Professor Murak sent her the saved video file from the Obelisk of Virtual Technology Data Base that he has the qualification to access, thus copying that particular Virtual War data video, though the Status Window information was already erased as per the Obelisk Privacy Terms.

When she watched it, she felt confused and wondrousness at the same time.

Confuse with how Samantha Hall solved the problem as if she has no hesitation, especially when reciting the Poem of Remembrance and looking at the moon with its eyes open.

Wondrousness because Samantha Hall is the daughter of the Number 1 'Player' in the Human Domain, but her father's Authority was something very different compared to solving a poem or riddle... The latter seemed so trivial.

'I wonder if his daughter already has a contracted 'Constellation' at her young age...'

As Ayleen said that inwardly while speaking with other people in the Obelisk Grand Stadium where many renowned investors, guild Scouters of both known and unknown guilds, as well as media companies covering the Opening Ceremony in the entirety of Human Domain, a thought surfaced in her mind.

'I should visit Lunaria sometime later...'

...

After the Opening Ceremony, the renowned investors of the Obelisk Academy went to their respective businesses; the guild Scouters of known and unknown guilds began engaging with some students whose Status Windows laid bare in their eyes because of Status Appraisal Skill. It's a must-have skill of guild Scouters to find prospects for guild recruitment, while the media personnel was covering almost everything as if nothing could escape their eyes. As everyone was granted a profession and became a 'Player', there were general classes that focuses on production, recording, speech, fishing, and so on. It was the balance of the System that allowed humanity to thrive after the destruction of the 'Old World' because if everyone was granted a fighting-type profession, causing disharmony, it would undoubtedly accelerate the destruction between the humans themselves instead.

Various sizes of holographic projections due to advance technology were floating in midair. It contained information regarding Obelisk Academy structures such as the Buildings where students reside, the Obelisk Tracking Field where students exercise their bodies, the Obelisk Public Training Grounds where students fighting skills were honed, and the new-built Obelisk Center Hall where the Banquet of Obelisk took place in.

One of the holographic projections contained information about the finalized details of the 'Ranking Exchange Event'. It's the one that garnered almost everyone's attention, especially guild Scouters where they can personally see the skills of participants whether it's a fighting, support, or production-type of profession, especially the famous A-1 classes from first-year to third year.

Fighting and Support-type professions can have a battle with each other, but it has a strict rule with production classes ranking exchange battle.

A student with the Alchemist profession from the lower section, A-2 to A-12 cannot challenge a student with the Blacksmith profession as the two produced different products that have different values and uses, so a comparison cannot be made.

Russell Moon — who was walking with small steps beside Freya, Amelie, and Amery — suddenly stopped his pace, prompting the trio to look at him with wondering expressions. He then looks up, causing the trio to follow his gaze.

"Ranking Exchange Event"

"Here are the finalized details regarding the Ranking Exchange Event that can change the fate of the students!"

Russell quickly skim the information he already knew and checked the ones he was looking for.

He also saw the information regarding the battle between the production classes. It will happen separately in a laboratory that will be presided over by professional Obelisk staff whose ranks are no joke, but the scene will be broadcasted in the entirety of Obelisk Academy. There were only 10 matches each day, less than in fighting classes which have 15. The winner will be determined according to the quality of the product made.

After quickly skimming other information, he read what he needed to see.

"Rules of the 'Challenge of Exchange – Fighting/Support Classes"

Number 6: Each participant will be given three pieces of Mid-Grade Health Potion and three pieces of Mid-Grade Mana Potion, but HOW a participant can consume it during the battle will depend on that particular participant himself or herself.

Number 7: The participant will win if the opposing participant says, 'I surrender', at the moment such words weren't said, the referee will take it as a sign of struggle and continue the battle. But if the opposing participant became unconscious for two to three seconds, it will be that participant's loss.

...

'That's what I'm talking about!'

Russell said inwardly as he finished reading what he needed to read.

"Oppa, are you going to participate in the Ranking Exchange Event?"

Freya asked, feeling excited as her deep blue eyes shimmered like a light reflected in the ocean.

"Yes, so I'd be your classmate."

Said Russell, though it was only a half-truth, his words were still said wholeheartedly so.

'I'm planning to make transactional connections, if not deep, with the main characters I wrote myself.'

He felt that it was wrong to make Freya a middlewoman between him and Han Jiho, Anya Amasawa, The Two Princesses...

'Leon... No, I don't care about that, I'd take within Rank 35 to 40, it won't garner his unnecessary attention.'

As he said that inwardly, Freya's lips curled up, revealing a precious smile, silently saying that she was proud of her older brother.

"By the way, noon is the opening of registration, right? What if others went first?"

It was Amelie who asked. Russell pinched his lower lip with his right thumb and index finger before answering her.

"It's alright, let's grab a bite first."

As he said that, he pointed at one of the stalls selling Nereian dumplings of various kinds such as shrimp dumplings, coral fish dumplings, carp dumplings, and other seafood delicacies, the specialty of the country Nereia.

He wasn't worried that others would quickly register because of the following reasons...

First, fighting against an A-1 student whether from the first year to the third year was something that needs consideration.

Second, losing against an A-1 student will bring the challenger in bad light with the guild Scouters present, affecting the challenger's future career as a 'Player'.

And third, humiliation in public media was something that was mentally taxing which means, if the challenger has no information on the A-1 student he or she wanted to challenge, the probability of losing is extremely high.

...

Somewhere in the Underworld Business Location, at Dark Rain Guild headquarters.

"Boss, the runaway opened 'her' Thorn of Rose account that you've given to her. About what 'she' did and her current location, we have no way of tracking."

A man sitting on a high-back chair, having blonde hair, black eyes, and with slightly fitted body looked at another man, genuflecting in front of him.

"Amelie Rose, you mean?"

The Boss said, reaching for a cigar on his side, he then breathe it for a second as bluish smoke coming out of his mouth... Mana Cigarettes.

The genuflecting man nodded at his Boss' words.

"Leave her be for now, but find the possible reasons 'why' she accessed again the Thorn of Rose account I've given her. Also, don't attempt to track her, you'd die. You know very well the reason for that."

The man didn't answer, but he vaguely understood what his 'Boss' meant.

The confidentiality of Thorn of Rose Black Market was under the authority of a Neutral Constellation. Its contractee or the owner of the Black Market is shrouded in mystery as no one knew his or her identity.

Any intrusion or attempt of tracking one's location will result in the death of unknown causes. That's why one of the famous unwritten sayings in Thorn of Rose underworld business is...

"One Business, Zero Questions."