Chapter 1233 - A New Realm Accompanying Time
Thus, a brief moment.
Even after the secret with Ashe, nothing noteworthy or unexpected occurred, and after the completion of the starry sky event where we successfully and fully enjoyed playing, resting, and relaxing.
As always, the busily rushing time knew no stop...
Moving on, to mid-April (dot-emphasis: mid-April).
"......Calmly speaking, is this really the time to be doing this?"
"What are you saying at this point? ...Though, I completely agree."
I was on the Arena. While pretending to be used to it and brushing off the cheers and heat that seemed ready to split the instance field, I was exchanging silly remarks with my facing best friend.
Mutually, though the words and expressions we exchanged were like that, we were technically in battle-ready stances.
Irori, who had his hand on the hilt of the "Blue" one among the two worn on his left waist, and I, who was already holding two small "Red" ones in both hands, could switch gears with a single breath from each other.
Kicking the surrounding situation to the edge of our thoughts, it was easy to indulge in a cheerful clash of blades. Even though that was true... as expected, even now, I couldn't help but think.
Does our faction (Istia) really prefer festivals over sanity?
"There's no helping them..." I couldn't avoid a bitter smile filled with love.
April, August, December. Held three times a year, every four months, the schedule of the 'Four Pillar War' was extremely simple system-wise. Based on the feature release on the first of the month and various simple notifications, the only thing prepared was the execution of the event at the end of the month.
Thus, arranging and packing the necessary schedule in the meantime was entirely up to the players. To make the dream grand festival—which would absolutely not be held properly if left to the system—into a true 'festival', the planned and managed schedules differed for each faction.
Well, that was natural since the past twelve times were in a 'competing' format. While keeping minimum communication thorough when necessary, how to unite each faction individually... in truth, that was also part of the war.
There is an old saying that the preparation period is the most fun part of a festival—well, I suppose that could apply to the preparation period of the Four Pillar War as well.
Even though there were hardships like internal affairs and whatnot that were seriously impossible for me, the fact that the event months three times a year were accompanied by endless excitement was proof of that.
It wasn't just the rulers (dot-emphasis: rulers) who faced a deadly level of busyness... like the direct commanders, the [Sword Queen] and the [Monarch], the "faces" of the four factions, but also including the countless who supported the zenith, there were plenty of people who willingly drowned in the busyness.
In the East (ours), like Rotta.
—Anyway, with the preparation period of the 'Four Pillar War' having completely different schedules and colors for each faction, this was the thirteenth time, and the first of the reborn version.
Needless to say, with everything changing, although not as much as the real world, we on the virtual world side had also faced a massive table-flip. Specifically, it boiled down to the change in the selection criteria for participating personnel due to the major shift in the event's direction.
From PvP to PvE, from conflict to cooperation, and the integration of the participation slots of the four factions.
Simply put, it became impossible to freely select members in each of the East, West, South, and North. Naturally, Istia—which was the only one among the three factions (excluding the West, which had maintained non-combat) to hold a straightforward test of strength called a 'brawl (tournament)'—was no exception.
In short, to put it simply again, for now, just for this time.
A decision made because there was no time to waste on leisurely discussions. Having our beloved faction players (Istians) accept that this was just for this time, it was settled in the form of drafting veterans who had experience participating in past Four Pillar Wars or large-scale raids.
Yes, it was settled. This time, there was no customary tournament.
Yes, it should have been settled, yet—
"...Well, whatever. Shall we do this?"
"...Yeah, well, I guess so."
Once again, on the Arena. While pretending to be used to it and brushing off the cheers and heat that seemed ready to split the instance field, facing each other was a one-on-one between [Crown (me)] and [Peerless (Irori)].
Borrowing the usual convenient stage... namely, the stage of Istia's customary Four Pillar selection battle, just like a demonstration shown in response to the near-infinite demand.
What on earth were we being made to do... well, needless to say. To put it bluntly without holding back, it was an unavoidable spectacle to suppress dissatisfaction—
"Then, come at me (dot-emphasis: come at me)."
"Well then, come at me (dot-emphasis: come at me)."
......................
Yes, well, anyway, as a spectacle to satisfy the audience.
To avoid April becoming a dull preparation period with no excitement, it was a temporary event-like 'public play-fight between rankers'—
As the first shot of the entertainment planned over three days.
Mainly entrusted by Gossan with a really casual vibe, "For now, if you two fight, everyone will be happy. I'm counting on you," I just had to solemnly perform the opening card... or so I thought,
"...Ah?"
"...Hm?"
That was the plan, but it was a sudden turn of events, or rather, a sudden ignition.
I provoked Irori, and Irori provoked me. When we both smugly gestured 'come on' with our fingers, putting aside our own mirrored actions, a fire was lit in the heads of us boys (idiots).
No, what, what was that?
For me, it was that. As the one who had humbly shone as the champion of the previous Four Pillar selection tournament? In a way that respected the hierarchy suited for the venue?
I did the 'come on' gesture, you know?
But Irori, that guy, completely exposed an attitude of looking down on me as a de facto lower-ranked, cute junior (lol) who still had room to grow—a pure act of provocation—
"Bring it on, Senior (you bastard)...!!!"
"Bring it on, Junior (you fool)...!!!"
Thus, in this way, two boys (idiots). It was a regular occurrence that we couldn't point fingers at the casual vibe and Gossan.
Cheers and heat were immediately excluded from our minds, half-consciously and half-unconsciously. To thoroughly beat down the opponent we absolutely couldn't lose to more than anyone else in the world, we clashed our blades in the center of the Arena.
Yes. From here, Section 4, almost entirely, will apparently be the New Four Pillars Arc.
I don't know how many battle descriptions there will be.
Help.