Death's Disciple [Sys Apoc, OP Villain MC, LitRPG] Chapter 68: 1.68 Athruvius

Read chapter 68 of Death's Disciple [Sys Apoc, OP Villain MC, LitRPG] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Chapter 68 “Are you ready?” Barry asked as he looked at me sideways. “As I’ll ever be,” I chuckled. I didn’t look back at the paladin, my eyes instead were focused on the entirety of Paragon Guild that was arranged in front of us. The combat team stood in columns, their gold-pinned captains standing at the front of each. There were nearly two hundred teams now, each with six or seven people. Paragon had grown quite large in the last weeks. The Tournament announcement gave some incredible incentives to Hunters to join with a guild before it started, Paragon was first pick for most. Off to the side stood the large group of staff and support members of the guild. Natalya was standing at the forefront of them, and unlike her usual attire of a suit jacket and skirt, she wore caster robes, and carried a small crystal orb in her hands. Behind her were other various support class Hunters, merchant and crafting classes mostly. They wouldn’t necessarily be in the combat events hinted by the Tournament announcement, but they were still Hunters, so they would be pulled in too. “There’s gonna be so much good food there. I’m calling it,” Norton said with his jovial smile. “They always have good stuff in the inhabited dungeons.” Next to him I could see Huwett facepalm aggressively while Francis chuckled beside her. Vasquez ignored the Healer completely, focusing instead on the little orbs that he controlled around his hand. He had added small globes of water to his fire orbs now and was showing some great improvement in both elements. “We need to try sticking together as soon as we get inside. No one runs off to do their own thing until we get our bearings. Got it?” Barry looked at Norton, and the large man looked to deflate a little. “Here we go,” I said loudly. The event timer in my System screen ticked down: [11 Seconds…] [6 seconds…] [3 seconds…] [1 second…] A flash of light invaded my vision, blinding me as normal. When I managed to regain my sight, the System had already done its thing and I found myself standing in an immense stone courtyard. It must have been a mile wide on each side, stretching farther than I anticipated at first glance. The whole open flat area was surrounded by yet more stone walls and columns. I turned, seeing that Barry and the others had appeared next to me, as if they hadn’t moved. The arranged teams of Paragon Guild were also there. So our preparations hadn’t gone to waste. But we weren’t alone. All around us, standing in large groups, small teams, or even alone, were more Hunters that had also been teleported in. They looked just as confused as I felt and various barriers and defenses went up among them. The sudden movements spooked a few others, and weapons were drawn. “Paragon, file in to the right, move toward the wall, make room for the others,” Barry shouted out over the low din of the other random Hunters. Without any hesitation, the teams of Paragon began marching as instructed, creating orderly lines four people deep. The support staff filed in with them, taking a spot in the middle between the combat groups. As they moved forward, many of the other unaffiliated Hunters scrambled to get out of the way. Though some were a bit too stunned to move at all. They were gently pushed aside, or walked around when able. “That’s Paragon Guild? They’re the strongest Guild in the American Continent,” one Hunter whispered to his buddy. “Strongest in the world, maybe,” their friend whispered back. “Nah, Fólkvangr has gotta be the strongest.” “That’s Barry Schilling, look,” another whispered from a small group. More whispers came. Some mixed with excitement and shouts of greeting as we walked by. Barry smiled and waved to those who shouted his name, like a princess being led through a parade. One of the far too excited members of the crowd tried approaching, only to be stopped by Francis. “Oh come on, I just wanna—“ I ignored the interruption. There would be far too many people who ‘just want to meet’ the Paladin. W