Chapter 11: Do Better, Victor Bright

The next couple of days went by like a blur in a rapid succession.

Adrianne, my older sister returned back from the Ritual Ceremony having totally dominated the other heirs and contestants.

As expected of my cute little monster!

Since the heir of our Bright family was participating, it was a given that we the family were present to watch. Although, only the last of the trials was made available to the families.

And for the first time since my transmigration, I experienced a part of the life outside my Manor. The main family's estate was massive with multiple annex.

The ritual ceremony was a three day event comprising of three trials across.

From what I heard, there was a Maze trial, a Hunting event, and finally, a small tournament, on the last day, with the last contestant standing, the overall winner.

Now, of course the trials and events change each Ritual periodically, so the heirs were supposed to have no prior knowledge as to what challenge they would be facing.

But I was certain, in a system like this, that there would be a few 'exception'.

I mean cheating.

The ritual Ceremony is to keep in check the other branch families, so it wouldn't be unnatural for the Main to may have pulled some strings, especially when it came to their own heirs.

The Solvaine twins.

And my older cousins.

I never truly got to meet them in person though, and could only watch their figures from a distance. This was because, the contestants weren't allowed contacts with their corresponding families when they arrived. And as such all the heirs were accomodated separately in one of the Manor's annex throughout the extension of the event.

This was how the twins and some the other contestant managed to seize the opportunity to harass my sweet and cute elder sister.

It would have been a big shame if an heir from a meager branch family won against the Main family's heir. So these Rituals were commonly rigged over each generations.

But Adrianne surpassed everything that was thrown at her and ultimately became number one. Despite all the advantages the Solvaine twins may have received ahead of time.

So yes... humans even in this world we're rotten.

And how was i entitled to know all this? Of course I heard it from Adrianne herself. (Aka. eavesdropping)

It went without saying, Adrianne was the first heir to a branch family to dominate over the main family during the Ritual, in generations.

The main family were believed to have a more superior and pure bloodline to our great ancestor and would always come out victorious (through cheating).

So this was a massive achievement that blew a wave throughout the entire Solvaine family as a whole.

Adrianne Bright had made history. And against all odds.

Adrianne's return was quickly followed by a large banquet in the Bright's and even our local community were invited to celebrate the 'Young miss' of the Brights.

Throughout it all, I played the role of a happy younger brother with a sincere obsession and respect for the older sister to a T. I was happy for her, it was expected.

I already knew that Adrianne wouldn't have much of a problem accomplishing the Ritual as the one untop. And I solidified this believe when I used the {Inspect} skill on the other heirs, including the main Twins.

Hmph, trifling. Even I could beat them with little to no problems, I thought wistfully to myself as I fastened my left arm guard.

It had been five days since all that happened, and my sweet merciledd sister gad invited me to a one on one spar.

"Are you ready, Vic?"

"Yes. I hope you go easy on me." I responded with a carefree smile and took my position, a wooden spear in hand.

Eight years into this world, I was slowly growing accustomed to using a weapon in a fight, especially the spear. My proficiency level at the moment was considerable at best.

But maybe it was thanks to my street fighting instincts that I had quickly been growing used to a weapon. After all, in a street fight, whatever you can get in your hands, becomes a deadly weapon.

"Begin."

Adrianne alerted and she disappeared before me.

I'll keep this embarrassing display short and save me the trouble.

It was over as soon as it began.

"Oof." I fell breathlessly to the ground with a small groan. My eyes were stared wide at the expanse of the blue sky and fluffy white clouds above.

Feeling my chest pump in a rhythmic pattern, I blinked.

What the hell just happened?

I kept asking myself that.

Adrianne was fast, too fast. With my new Beta status, I thought I would be able to better keep up with her this time around.

I was wrong.

"Hmph. You're done in one move?"

One move!

A single move, and I was hurled across the air!

I tried to feign a carefree smile, but they came out wryly as I said.

"Big sister didn't hold back at all."

...

[Skill {Inspect (lvl1)} is currently active]...

...

Yep, I was right.

...

[Name: Adrianne Bright

Level: 8]

...

Adrianne had grown stronger again. Her level was still the same, but it was more like it was better reflecting now that I went against her.

While I deactivated my skill, Adrianne's motionless face appeared directly over mine. She squatted over my head from the other side, so her face and expression looked upside down from my perspective.

Her beautiful strands of brown hair fell over me, closing the rest of the world off, and all I could look at where her deep hazy brown eyes staring back into mine.

Adrianne soon frowned slightly.

"What are you smiling at?"

Without realizing it, I had been smiling.

"You have pretty eyes." I said unconsciously in a honest voice.

A draft blew across the courtyard as silence descended, seemingly upon the whole world.

Adrianne's face remained stoic and motionless for a few seconds, then as if only slowly registering my words, her eyes slowly widened.

A small, uncharacteristic giggle left her lips. And I was left staring deeply enamored by the glow.

Adrianne...my sister was cute when she laughed, I held my breath for that fleeting moment, not wanting to miss a single second.

She placed the tip of her index finger against my forehead. And with an expression i hadn't seen my sister wear before she looked straight into mine with smile and said.

"You have beautiful eyes too. Those gold are special."

This time, it was me that froze.

Cute!

Wh-what the hell just happened? Did my heart just miss a beat? For my sister?!

I hadn't expected she would quip back in...in such a... devious manner!

That smile! That was Adrianne's secret weapon! How diabolical!

[DING! Your heart rate just spiked] I heard Meta's voice resound teasingly in my head.

'Shut up! And don't make it seem like a system message, you stupid bot!'

Regaining composure externally, I let out an exhausted sigh.

"What is it?" My diabolical sister asked with a tilt of her head.

Then I yielded with a defeated smile.

"Big sis is just too sly."

Adrianne frowned at my response, confusion written all over her reverted motionless expression.

"Are you picking a fight?"

"I just lost one."

Two actually, I added internally.

Adrianne lingered for a few seconds longer then scoffed. She retracted her face from over mine and got up to walk away.

Leaving behind a few words.

"You're still too weak."

By the time she was gone, I remained lying on the grass while staring at the sky for a while longer. Feeling strangely at peace.

...and lazy.

But peace!

[You lost pathetically.] Meta's condescending tone made my eyes twitch.

[She only leveled up three times since then, and the gap is still this big. You won't survive the Calamity with this level of progress you're maintaining.]

Listening to the system's synthetic voice, I went into silent deliberation.

This is the first time Meta is taking the initiative to bring up the Calamity. I hid my thoughts away from the system and said internally.

'Well, what am I supposed to do? I'm already doing my best. ' whinning like so, I summoned my status.

..

[Name: Victor Bright

Level: 4

Rank: Beta

Hp: ???

________

________

<STATS >

Strength:- ???

Speed:- ???

Agility:- ???

Constitution:- ???

Luck:- ???

Aura:- 8/9

Charm:- ???

______

______

<SKILLS >

{Inspect}

Level 1

Rank-: Rare

...

{???}

Level???

Rank-:???

...

____

____

<SUMMARY >

Too little information is known

____

___]

...

I hadn't gone up two levels in the last five days like Adrianne.

I even managed to increase my Aura just a bit by constantly exhausting it intentionally in secret. It wasn't much, but I was at least satisfied.

Soon, Meta responded strangely.

[We both know that's not the truth. Do better, Victor Bright.]

Then the familiar system screen popped up before me.

...

[—DING!

Main Quest

Type:- SURVIVAL

Name:- Quest To Becoming Stronger:

Description:

The {Great Calamity} is coming...Get stronger and survive.

Duration-: ...

Reward:- ...

Penalty:- Death, ??? ]

...