18 Black Market Challenge

As Logan continued to look for the Black Market Challenge, he had seen many things along the way. There were shops, houses, workshops, and more all over the place. NPC's were doing their things and players were roaming around the same. There were even some people who would go up to a random NPC and try to get a quest out of them, however these people were promptly shooed away and some even had favorability with them taken away.

Logan just quietly took in all the sights and continued looking around. About 10 minutes later, Logan finally found the 2 stories building, The Gnome's Auction House.

As Logan entered, just like Shi Feng had said, not many people were watching. There were some people loitering there hoping to catch the attention of the Gnomes, however they had had no luck it seemed. Logan walked over to a bronze plated wall and saw the name Ye Feng engraved there. Logan also spatted a silver and gold wall, however there was nothing on these displays.

Logan directly walked to the reception desk and asked, "Hello, I would like to take the Gold Prize Challenge Race. Where do I go?"

The gnome at the desk raised an eyebrow before looking inspecting Logan more throughly. The gnome couldn't see anything special on Logan, however the gnome feeling an odd feeling from Logan.

Finally the gnome looked up and said in a unfriendly manner, "Pay 5 gold, go to the room across from here and wait for your name to be called."

So after paying, Logan walked into the room and the door shut behind him. Logan looked around the room and noticed a big dungeon like door on the other side of the room and a couple masks. When Logan looked through it he could see the stands and many NPC's sitting around betting on the players.

Because Shi Feng had beat the Bronze Challenge Race, people had moved onto the Bronze Battle Arena trial. Even so, there were almost no players watching.

The person in the ring now was on the verge of death as the Gnome NPC he was facing was practically playing with him. The reason no one had tried the battle challenge before completing the race was because at this point in the game, NPC's were simply too strong. Any player who had challenged a NPC, and there were some, had lost horribly. Even now, when the NPC is the same level and has the same stats as the challenger, the player stood no chance.

Several seconds later the NPC got bored and finished the player off, ending the challenge. Finally it was Logan's turn, however after the other player died there was a 10 minute break and many players who were watching had left. Now there were only about a dozen or so who were waiting for the match to start, buying beverages or other refreshments as they waited.

"The next challenger is The brave assassin who will be challenging the Gold Prize Challenge Race! The odds are 1/100. Place your bets now!" The announcer's voice rang out through the field.

Logan frowned in agitation, "C'mon now, I have a way better chance to win than that!" If players from the stands could hear him, they would have spit a mouthful of blood.

The players who were still in the arena were intrigued to hear this. They had just seen Shi Feng complete the bronze challenge about an hour ago, and now someone had been bold enough to challenge the Gold race? From their point of view, this person was either seeking attention or just plain stupid. All of the players watching started getting ready to record Logan's attempt. If he failed they would just have a warning for others, however if he succeeded, they would be swimming in credits by the end of the day.

Just like the gnome told Logan, the gate opened after Logan's name was called. Picking out a smile mask, Logan walked out into the field. When Logan set his sights on the field, he saw his red starting line. Looking across the field, Logan saw 10 Gnomes at the other end staring at him menacingly. Each of them had muskets in their hands and five of them even had one another automatic musket on their backs.

The field was 50 yards long and 20 yards wide. Each Gnome stood 2 yards apart, giving him seemingly no possible space to dodge. Logan's stats were set to 10 and he had taken out his basic assassin's dagger. Logan had also taken off his cloak because it was to wide and he didn't want to have to dodge with it flapping about. Since all equipment was rendered useless, Logan assumed it wouldn't help keep his identity anyway, however the mask covered his face and his name was hidden for now.

Getting ready to start Logan made some light movements testing his speed and mobility. Since his stats were dropped to below even his starting point he had never felt this weak in-game before.

When he was ready to start he lined up at the line and got ready to use his techniques. The race would begin when he crossed the start line, so there was no pressure until he passed it.

Suddenly, Logan's standing figure started to slowly sway back and forth. Everyone watching him must have fought he was getting the jitters because some started yelling encouragement, however Logan turned a deaf ear to them.

After a second Logan's sway became faster and faster until he was just a hazy blur. Then, right in front of the spectators eyes, Logan started to seem like he was fading in and out of existence. The crowed was dead silent and the players were dumbfounded. They couldn't believe their eyes.

CRACK!

Suddenly Logan's blurry figure rushed out into the field disappearing for a short while until he reappeared in front of the 5 yard line. Some of the spectating players had noticed the giant spiderweb crack on the stone floor where Logan had once stood.

When Logan appeared at the 5 yard line, the Gnomes were finally able to react. They aimed at Logan and started firing rapidly at his figure, however Logan seemed to faze right through the green lines pointing the trajectory of the bullets.

In real life, Logan could already dodge a sniper round from 1 foot away. Actually even the newest Neutralizing grandmaster could at least dodge a bullet from a pistol. The musket rounds were not even as fast as a pistol round not to mention a sniper round and the green indicator lines were even easier to tell how to dodge.

Logan's body in game would be the same as his normal body if all his starting stats were at 1. So even with the fixed stats, he still was faster than his normal body.

As Logan continued speeding down the field, the Gnomes started getting angry at the lack of Logan getting hit. Only 2 seconds after he passed the 5 yard line he was already halfway to the finish line. At this point, the gnomes started shooting in quick succession at Logan's figure.

Still not using his weapon, Logan continued to dodge the bullets at an even faster tempo. Logan was dodging the bullets by only millimeters, however the game was very high tech and it didn't register as a touch.

When Logan passed the 35 yard line, the Gnomes let out a cruel smile. "Die you crazy bastard!!!" One of them shouted as he pulled out his automatic musket along with the other 4 Gnomes.

Now the 20 bullets a second Logan had to dodge turned into 100 in a split second. Logan however didn't panic. He soundlessly retrieved his dagger and in a flurry of white flashes, deflected all the bullets in his way.

To the spectators, it seemed like Logan had taken out a round white shield to block the bullets, however the faint swooshing and loud clanging sound could not be mistaken. Not even the NPC's were spared from the shock. Everyone was slack jawed.

'Expert!' Some players thought. Some were from guilds that were here to scout and invite people to join them, and some were here from super guilds and had seen a thing or two. These experts from super guilds were amazed at what Logan was capable of. They themselves were considered experts among their peers, however they had to admit, they had never seen such a technique.

At this point in time Logan had crossed the 40 yard line, and although it seemed like the end, the gnomes had never had anyone win the Gold Prize Challenge Race and they didn't intend on changing that.

So, in an attempt to corner Logan, the 5 Gnomes without automatic muskets, dropped their own muskets and charged Logan.

"Fuck! That's cheating!" One of the spectators yelled.

To Logan however, their attempt was futile. Condensing his domain, Logan's perception of time slowed down. He could now see the bullets rotating as they approached him, instead of just feeling them. Logan taking a deep breath and holding it, moved his free hand into a palming position. Then, in a burst of speed, Logan launched it to the ground.

THUD!

FWOOSH!

The air surged away from Logan creating a vacuum void of air 20 meters around him. While holding his breath, Logan continued on toward the finish line. The Gnomes on the other hand, were now choking from the lack of oxygen. Even if it was a video game with magic, everything in or out of the game still had to breath.

All the gnomes stopped and fell to the ground holding their throats. Suffocation was not fun. Being deprived of the one thing needed to live for even a couple of seconds could could change a man. Maybe not players, but NPC's wouldn't come back once they died.

Dodging and deflecting the remaining bullets that were shot at him Logan rushes to the finish line in blinding speed, leaving 10 Gnomes suffocating on the ground. Now having no air resistance to block his path Logan only needed a second yo cross the finish line in record time.

Total time spent: 10 seconds. Estimated record time of 60 seconds for Gold Prize broken.

FWOOSH!

"Few... That was fun!" Logan exclaimed after the air rushed in to fill the empty void agin that it had once left.

"L...Ladies and Gentlemen, a round of applause! This Assassin has passed the challenge!" The announcer hesitantly announced.

System: Player was the First to pass the Gold Challenge and break the record. Rewarding player with 100 Gold and Supreme God Skill [Portal].

[Portal] (Action-type)

Requirement: Supreme God Job

Create a portal to either travel or attack. Portal can reach up to 50,000 yards in any direction. Portal will be invisible to enemies and enemies will be unable to use them. Portal will stay open for 1 second = 2 mana. Portal size will be determined by 1 foot = 2 mana. Portal distance will be determined by 1 yard = 1 mana.

Cooldown: none

"Cool... I wonder how rare this skill is... Well, it doesn't matter much to me anyways." Logan said as he exited the field going back to the door he came from.