Chapter 1: Candidates.
---------------------------------------
Name: Alseace LaRoze
Level: 1 (0.498285%)
Karma: 100/100
---------------------------------------
Status
Strength: 4.36
Agility: 6.42
Dexterity: 5.57
Vitality: 3.91
Mentality: 4.43
Sense: 4.25
Magic: -
Stamina: 5.16
Extra Points: 0
---------------------------------------
Skill: [Leftover] [Pain Resistance]
---------------------------------------
Sub-Skill: -
---------------------------------------
Achievement: -
---------------------------------------
Alseace was sitting at the bar counter and staring at his status screen. He then sighed as he looked at the cold iced tea in front of him and swirled it with the straw.
"It has been five years since you came to Dasmein, right? Happy birthday," A pink-haired woman stood behind the counter and put a glass of gin in front of Alseace. "That one is on me," she smiled as she rested her elbows on the counter and rested her right cheek on her right fist.
She always wore that fit black suit and white shirt underneath even though she was just at home. She was also a germophobe that she had to cover her hands with black gloves all the time.
"Thank you, Miss Sierra," Alseace forced his smile because he hated his birthday since it reminded him of that day.
Five years ago when Alseace got transferred into a different world called Dasmein, Sierra was there. She was the one who helped him and took care of him. She knew everything about him and his [Leftover] skill. She knew Alseace's goal was to find his brother and sister.
Sierra taught him the basic things that Alseace needed to know about being a Candidate. She also taught him everything about the modern world and how to live like everyone else in that world. Not only that, but she also trained him to raise his stats and other knowledge like survival and medicine.
"By the way," Alseace looked over his shoulder and saw the bar was empty. "It's unusual that none of them are here today since you said they're all here in town," Alseace looked at Sierra who yawned and covered her mouth.
"Ah! I almost forgot! We are late!" Sierra looked at her wristwatch and hurriedly walked around the counter and then grabbed Alseace's right hand. "Today everyone is being tasked as an observer, come because today is for High Ranker's Atonement!" She kept dragging Alseace and left the bar with him.
[Atonement] was what Candidates used when they reached [Overgrowth]. [Overgrowth] was when a Candidate reached the max level at a certain stage. At every certain level, Candidates would reach [Overgrowth] where they couldn't raise their status and level anymore until they did an [Atonement].
The level wasn't the only thing that Candidate focused on because status could be gained not only from leveling up. Training could increase status as well, but it was quite hard compared to leveling up. There was once a Candidate that tried to increase his Strength up to 15 from 11, and it took him a whole year of training to reach that.
There was another method like [Growth Potion] that could be obtained through [God Emporium]. But Status Potion was so expensive that it was worth more than anything that a human could buy. The [Growth Potion]'s price was 10,000 [God Coins], and to get [God Coins], Candidates had to do a [God Offering] which transformed all their wealth to God and turned them into [God Coins].
1 [God Coin] worth at least 1,000 dollars, but [God Offering] didn't have to be in a form of money. It could be an item, artifact, weapon, or armor that Candidates got from the hunt that would automatically be converted into [God Coin]. Also, the [God Coin] can be transformed into real money.
"Excuse me, this place is off-limit," A man in a black suit with black glasses blocked Sierra's path to enter the tall and wide building.
"Are you blind or are you stupid?" Sierra gave a cold stare at the man.
"Hey, you idiot! She's Sierra Red! She's an honored guest to the Emissary!" Another man came outside the building after he saw Sierra from the glass door.
"What?! She's that famous Otherworlder?" The first guy looked shocked. "P-please enter, Miss Red," He moved to the side and hid his face.
Otherworlder was something they called for people that were not originally from Dasmein. Even though she was known by the Emissary, there were only a small amount of people who knew about her.
They were escorted by the second guy and went deeper into the building. They ended up on the second floor for spectators to look down at the first floor where the [Atonement] was placed. Since it was a private affair and confidential which the public shouldn't see, and so there were only the two of them on the second floor.
A woman in a suit holding a clipboard walked to the middle of the hall with a man. She had long black hair, and her name was Gratya Adein, an Agent from the Emissary who handled everything related to Candidates. She was a Candidate, and a strong one as well.
"Royce Harling, twenty-four years old, and his rank is B. He reached Overgrowth three days ago and his status is as shown on the screen," Gratya looked at the projected screen that floated in the air above her.
A dozen people were gathered around the hall and they had their weapons ready. All of them were High-Rankers that belonged to S-Rank.
---------------------------------------
Name: Royce Harling
Level: 70
Karma: 40/100
---------------------------------------
Status
Strength: 43.44
Agility: 31.21
Dexterity: 24.40
Vitality: 18.54
Mentality: 13.71
Sense: 17.37
Magic: -
Stamina: 25.13
---------------------------------------
Candidate's level from 1 to 10 belonged to an F-Rank.
Candidate's level from 21 to 30 belonged to an E-Rank.
Candidate's level from 31 to 40 belonged to a D-Rank.
Candidate's level from 41 to 50 belonged to a C-Rank.
Candidate's level from 51 to 70 belonged to a B-Rank.
Candidate's level from 71 to 90 belonged to an A-Rank.
Candidate's level from 91 and above belonged to an S-Rank.
"His Karma is too low. This is going to be interesting," Sierra unwrapped a candy as she looked at Royce's status screen.
"Is forty Karma really that low?" Alseace looked at Sierra with a confused look.
"For a high ranker, forty is enough to be called unworthy," Sierra cracked and chewed the candy that it was loud enough to attract everyone from the first floor.
Everyone looked up and stared at Sierra leaning on the railing without showing any expression.
"Without further ado, please go ahead, Candidate Royce," Gratya walked away.
[Karma] was something that reflected the Candidate whether they did a good deed or a bad deed. Karma existed to remind them that God didn't want a Candidate who did bad deeds to become strong. This was why it existed, and if they ignored their own [Karma], during [Atonement] they would experience painful moments of the lives they had taken.
[Karma] could be gained through good will in any kind of way, like doing a charity, helping other people, and even a random act of kindness would be enough. But, the higher their levels were, the easier it would go down and harder to gain while low level Candidates were the opposite. Basically, it was something like a great power that came with great responsibility.
Candidates were given 7 days to prepare after they reached [Overgrowth]. On the 7th day, the system would force the Candidates to do an [Atonement]. So it would be dangerous if they didn't come prepared.
If they failed to resist during the [Atonement], they would go berserk and lose their minds. The worst part would be the Candidate would become corrupted that a Demon would take their bodies and souls. That was why so many Candidates gave up after knowing how dangerous it would be and kept living an ordinary life.
"I have sinned... I have sinned... I have sinned!" Royce mumbled as he went on his knees and put his head on the floor with his hands on the back of his head.
Royce suddenly screamed his lungs out and started tearing his shirt. All the High-Rankers were on standby, waiting to see if they were needed to take action. He started to pull his hair off as he kept screaming and rolling over on the floor.
Royce suddenly stopped moving and the tension became heavier. He started chuckling and slowly got up from the ground. His eyes started to glow red and he stared at each one of them that were in the hall.
"Thank you for the offering," Royce giggled mischievously.
A long black hair man dashed toward Royce and snapped his neck in a blink of an eye. His name was Ando Lou, an S-Rank Candidate, the Noble Guildmaster.
[0.000975% EXP gained]
"He's... fast..." Alseace gulped.
"Didn't I tell you guys that it's dangerous to let them do this with that low Karma?" Ando looked at the other Candidates and the people from the Emissary. "If we keep doing this we will lose a lot of manpower to fight those monsters and demons," Ando removed his hands from Royce's head as he sighed and fixed his black leather jacket.
A neat blue-haired man with a white top hat and wearing a blue suit while holding a cane stared at Ando with a cold expression. He was an S-Ranker, and his name was Nero Lewis, the Gentlestar Guildmaster.
A woman with bright yellow long hair who put a black suit over her shoulders didn't even react and kept staring at her phone. Her name was Katya Adein, Gratya's younger sister and an S-Ranker, also, the Silver Talon Guildmaster.
Lastly, a woman with lazy eyes and black slick short hair wore a black turtle neck underneath her white coat and another black coat that she put over her shoulders. She looked bored and didn't want to be there, and her name was Elenoir Blaid. An S-Ranker and the Entity Guildmaster.
"Isn't that right, Miss Red?" Ando looked up and stared at Sierra.
"Hm? I only gave you valuable information. Whether you take it or ignore it, that's none of my business," Sierra looked at Ando as she sucked the candy in her mouth. "By the look of it, it seems there will be no more Candidates that will do an Atonement, Gratya?" Sierra looked at Gratya with her eyebrows raised.
Gratya looked at the clipboard and then she sighed. "Yes, it appears we have to postpone this until the seventh day. We, the Emissary will help them increase their Karma," Gratya crossed her arms and looked at the Candidates that were planning to do an Atonement.
"Are we done here? Can I leave?" Elenoir glanced at the Emissary's higher-ups that were sitting at the table.
An old man in the middle nodded his head without saying a single word.
"The show is over, let's head back. You're planning on working from the morning tomorrow, right?" Sierra crumpled the candy wrapper as she walked toward the exit and put the wrapper in her pocket.
"Yes," Alseace nodded and followed Sierra from behind.
Elenoir glanced at Alseace as she walked to the exit.