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Chapter 177 : Reading Newspaper
🕑 Added 2025-01-17 07:40:13 +0000 UTC« Chapter-176 | Index | Chapter-178 »
After an hour of catching up with his parents, Sora began to feel lighter. The weight on his chest had eased, replaced by the warmth of being with family.
Henri leaned back in his sofa, swirling a cup of coffee in his armchair. “Despite what you think about yourself, the world sees you in a different light now. You’re the Beacon of Hope, after all.”
Sora’s eyebrows shot up at the mention of the nickname. “Alius said the same thing to me before… What does that even mean? How would people know me? I’ve never done anything worth remembering or stood out in public.”
Kara shook her head, ready to counter his words, but Marie spoke first. “We didn’t know at first either. But shortly after you disappeared into the tower, we started getting newspapers daily, filled with all sorts of secrets and articles about players. That’s when we started seeing your name mentioned.”
Sora was surprised, 'In those players' memories, there was nothing about me... It's true they weren't the kind of players who interacted a lot with others, but why would they miss so much information about the tower?'
Sora frowned, 'And why would my parents suddenly start receiving mail with newspapers with classified information? Did the group or person who posted players in front of the house do this?'
Marie’s proud smile made Kara pause, piquing her curiosity.
Henri chimed in. “One of the papers explained that the player who performed the best inside the tower would earn a reward so valuable, it could change the fate of humanity. Something so valuable that it would benefit countless people.”
Kara looked surprised. She had discussed the tower rewards with Sora, and was surprised others had hints about them. “How would they know about that?” she asked.
Henri shrugged. “Do you remember the player who hit level 50 first and triggered the first World Update ? He's Roméo—also known as Xgamer170— and he leaked the information. He claims whoever reaches the top of the tower will be humanity’s Beacon of Hope. People latched onto it.”
“Roméo...” Sora murmured, remembering the name . “Did he ever make it to the top of the tower?”
Henri shook his head. “We couldn’t find any confirmation about that. We’ve been devouring every newspaper and article published over the last few months. But while his own achievements are vague, there’s testimony from other players about what’s happening inside the tower.”
Marie leaned forward, her smile widening. “Your name came up everywhere.” She glanced at Kara, adding with a chuckle, “And yours too! The two of you were constantly mentioned as part of the ‘monster rookies.’”
Sora’s curiosity was piqued. “I need to see these papers. Where are they?”
Marie pointed toward the bookshelf. “Go on, have a look.”
On the bookshelf, more than a hundred papers were stacked. He could notice that a few dozens were marked with colors.
Henri explained, "The ones with blue bookmarks mention you, in a positive light. The ones in purple mention you in a bad way. In yellow, they mention Kara. In red ..."
Sora understood the meaning behind her silence, "Rachel?"
Marie nodded.
He chose one that had a both yellow and blue bookmarks, and started reading it.
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“Ralph and Kara: The Rise of Two French Stars”
January 14, 2050 – The Weekly Ascension Insider
By Jerem
Emily Frekk. Ralph Eden. Kara Spirine.
These are the names of the three players who stood out the most during the 4th floor’s trial.
The first name may already be familiar to some of you. If not, you’ve likely heard her nickname: The Blood Witch.
Emily is a fearsome player from the Korean Region and a prominent member of the [ARAM] guild. She earned her infamous title during the guild war of 2048, where she single-handedly annihilated the entire [LAG] guild. Emily’s skill allows her to weaponize her own blood, turning every wound into a deadly advantage. On the battlefield, her blood flowed like a living force, striking enemies with deadly attacks while shielding her from harm. By the end of that guild war, she had earned the respect of players across all regions.
During the 4th trial, Emily stole the spotlight, raising a terrifying Kitsune—a legendary nine-tailed fox from Japanese folklore.
Emily Frekk placing among the best on the fourth floor was no surprise. She had been categorized as one of the S-tier prospects of the Tower, behind Morgan Casey, Clémence Berger and a few others who had their own specialization.
However, the second and third names—Ralph Eden and Kara Spirine—were far less known before entering the tower.
The duo was mentioned only twice in the past: once in the [Weekly War Recap] covering battles in the North of Europe, and once in my own article profiling the 400 players entering the Ascension Tower.
At the time, both were categorized as B-tier prospects. While undeniably impressive for their levels, they were not considered top contenders because of their levels. Analysts predicted they might perform exceptionally on normal floors but gave them slim chances of advancing past the 4th or 8th floors because they were expected to face opponents far beyond their power levels.
Yet, against all odds, this year’s first PvP trial featured pet raising and battles—a format that perfectly suited lower level players.
The two young players shone brighter than anyone else, securing top positions for their teams.
Both are French players who joined the [ARAM] guild shortly before entering the Ascension Tower. Their high ratings during their assessments by Hannah Stone in Japan hinted at a promising future, but no one could have predicted how quickly they’d rise.
Their success in the 4th trial has proved their potential to stand among the best players in the Ascension Tower. By nurturing peerless familiars and using them in battle to dominate elites from the whole world, they’ve shown not only dominance but were also a promise to walk alongside the best players of our kingdom in a few years.
It is, however, a pity they haven't been noticed and nurtured earlier. Sending them so early in the Ascension Tower might become a mistake [ARAM] and our race will regret. After all, all S-Tier prospects prepared themselves for an extra year to have all chances on their side during their climb.
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Sora’s eyes lingered on the article, his expression tense. He cringed at the praise and the guesses about his future.
‘French Stars? What a joke,’ he thought, closing the newspaper. Though he couldn’t deny the accuracy of some statements, he hated the sensation of being scrutinized, his name plastered across headlines.
Beside him, Kara glanced at the paper in his hands, noticing his reaction. “What’s wrong? You don't like shining brightly in the sky ? You're a star now!” she asked on a light tone.
Sora shook his head. “I don't care about fame. The less people aware of my existence, the better it'll be. This just makes me want to reset, to be honest."
Henri laughed at his son's words and commented, "You still don't like being the center of the attention, it seems."
Sora nodded, "I hate it..." Pausing for a few seconds, he added, "Nathan knew it. When we were kids, he would always attract everyone's gaze so people could leave me alone. I miss that feeling..."
Henri sighed and noticing the mood dropping, he changed the topic "That article was alright, but check the others. After that one, your group became the focus of the articles. But there are also articles about the state of the world."
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“Lost Territories and a Worrying Future”
July 18, 2050 – Weekly War Recap
By Tlart Tenk
As we continue to adapt to the System's implementation and the unending escalation of intercontinental warfare, the global situation has become more volatile than ever. Over the past months, several key developments have changed the balance of power, redrawing some borders and casting shadows over our future.
The Dark Elves have emerged as one of the most aggressive factions. In a bold and frenetic campaign, they have seized a dozen territories from the New European Union (NEU). Taking advantage of the region’s weaknesses, they have claimed control of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and several other northern countries.
France and Germany have been calling for assistance to prepare for Tier 2 wars, but other regions, burdened by their own conflicts, have been unable to offer much support. It’s estimated that tens of thousands of NEU elites left the region to train abroad. Analysts suggest that if even a third of them were to return, the NEU could hold out for at least another year.
After five years of dominance by the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean regions over the Demon Kingdom, a dramatic change has occurred. The Demon Kingdom has reclaimed all the territories it lost during the early phases of the conflict.
Rumors suggest that the resurgence is due to the rise of a Demon King. Little is known about this figure, except that he is a recently emerged player who appeared less than a year ago. Experts from the Asian regions have proposed abandoning other fronts to focus on the Demon Kingdom due to the threat it poses. However, the suggestion has faced heavy criticism.
Meanwhile, across the globe, three factions—the Dwarf Kingdom, the Spirit Kingdom, and the Elemental Golem Kingdom—have forged an unprecedented alliance. Together, they have launched a massive counteroffensive against the American regions, whose military achievements rival those of the Asian regions.
The Russian region has lost half of its territories to the Orcs, while the African Region suffered its first major defeat in five years, losing South Africa to the Dragonborn Kingdom.
The only region currently managing to hold its ground is Southeast Asia, which has successfully defended its territories against the Werewolf Kingdom.
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adrien
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