Seeing a big man flying toward them, those mana users instantly moved away clearing a space to let Kiria fall hard on the ground. All eyes have turned towards Kiria who was still lying down. The jaw gaping moment has left everyone in awe. How often could they see an A-rank would be sent flying with one slap.
And the sound of that slap... reminded everyone the time their mother would hit their butt for being naughty! That's what you get from doing bad things. After getting their sense back, those who had been holding themselves from getting ridiculed and mistreated without ever get the chance to fight back could feel a burning sensation of satisfaction.
"Kiria...is down!"
"That Kiria? The Kiria?!"
"What just happened?!!"
"Finally...finally..."
Whispers and gasped were floating since most of the crowds could not believe what just happened in front of their eyes. But slowly, the murmurs were overwhelmed with loud cheers of excitement coming from those who have long grudges against Kiria! Both from the earthens and otherwolders.
"The newbie did it! He beat Kiria!"
"An earthen...an earthen beat an otherworlder!"
As the earthens continued to cheer on and on, a sudden mighty roar vibrating in the hall which caused everyone to fall silent. It was Kiria. He managed to stand up again. He just stood there with a blank face without moving an inch. After a while, he looked at both of his hands that were shaking uncontrollably. No matter how hard he tried to make it stop, his hands won't just listen to his mind. He raised his head to look toward Kim but the moment their gazes were locked at one another, Kiria heart rate dramatically increased at a fast rate. This was the first time he felt fear in the Earth.
But his pride does not want to accept the reality. He looked toward his followers and ordered them to send his axe. His followers were hesitant at first but looking at Kiria's gaze which was brimming with murderous killing intent has pressured them to throw the axe in. It took three people to throw the great axe which Kiria caught with one hand.
Leila took a glance at guild master Larc but he only stayed quiet in his seat. For someone like the guild master, she knew he has his reason so she held her hands and decided to observe as well.
Mana users already have extraordinary combat capabilities when compared to an ordinary person even when they are bare-fisted. Further equipped with a weapon they specialized with, they could combine their skills with mana to further increase their fighting potential to another whole level.
For an archer like Teng, enhancing his mana sense would make it impossible for him to miss his mark. A heavily armoured Wong could have high mobility with his enhanced muscle. Borrowing the power of mana stone attached to his staff, Ling can extract the mana to increase his firepower. Equipment is an essential tool for mana users like weapons for the military.
The moment the great axe was within his grasp, Kiria whole demeanour has completely changed. His chaotic mind has regained composure once more. Even Kim was able to notice the pressure exerted by Kiria had become heavier. No one dared to break the silence when they saw Kiria's serious face. Even the image of him got sent flying with a slap becoming faint.
Kiria grabbed hold of the great axe with his two hands. When his mana flows into it, the great axe separated into two hand axes which he juggled around skillfully. After a slight warm-up, he took a firm grip of the two hand axes and released his mana. The audience who were near get blown away.
This whole time Kim was analysing Kiria's mana and he could see the movement of mana flow like the air current. Wrong! It was the air current moving according to Kiria's mana! Kiria is a two type mana user, enchanter and manipulator. Even though he is famous for his powerful blow but the reason he can maintain his position as the top mana user in the guild is because of wind manipulation skill which enables him to overwhelm anyone who has a similar level of strength.
The wind started to circle Kiria with him at the centre, making him floating in the air. He created a sonic boom which pushed him forward at tremendous speed. The circling wind around Kiria was like a raging typhoon which reduced the mobility of his opponent. Plus, the wild wind was strong enough it could shred high-rank monsters with ease. Even Kim was caught off guard by the unexpected powerful wind that coming at him without warning. Riding the momentum of his speed, Kiria gave a powerful blow with his axe. Kim was still able to block the sudden attack but the slicing wind still managed to leave a cut which made him bleed.
Ordinary mana users would get shredded in pieces the moment they get close. However, Kim didn't just stand there with a slight cut, he was also able to take on the sudden direct hit of his powerful swing. Little that he know, Kim would never even get the cut in the first place if he was using his mana to guard himself. Of course, there's no way Kiria would think of someone fighting him without mana.
Kiria already accepted that the opponent in front of him is quite formidable. So he didn't waste a single effort to move to Kim's side for the second blow but unexpectedly, Kim was able to throw a side-kick even with the storm that was holding him down. Kiria unleashed a sonic boom between him and Kim to push them away from each other. No matter how much he tried to forget about it, Kiria's muscle still remembered the pain from Kim's slap that has been ingrain in his body. Instead of blocking, he retreated.
Before Kim was able to recover from the knockback, Kiria again glided toward Kim to land another blow. This was Kiria's speciality with his wind to compensate his heavy body. He used the wind to manoeuvre himself with high speed and dexterity. Even with his huge stature and bulky muscle, he could move nimbly like a hummingbird and strike fast like a falcon and still producing skull-shattering blow.
However, again without believing his eyes, Kim was already waiting for him. The gaze from Kim suddenly felt menacing. Kiria composure was easily broken when their eyes meet. Instead of attacking, he moved around Kim waiting for an opening. Feeling desperate, Kiria's movement was becoming faster and faster as if he was teleporting from one spot to another. The moment he thought he saw an opening he would strike without a single moment of notice, but each one of his attacks would be blocked or dodged by Kim. Compared to his fight with King Hydra, this was typically nothing.
The whole crowd becoming noisier as they were watching the heated battle between Kim and Kiria. They could not believe a newbie could make Kiria fight seriously. Alas, now that Kiria becoming serious, Kim would not leave the battle unscathed. He may be out of commission for months after the battle is finish. That what they thought until Kim grabbed Kiria in the face with his palm.
Wong, Teng and Ling spurt out the tea that they were drinking. They knew Kim was strong, but they never knew he is ridiculously powerful! With trembling voice, Ling asked Momo who was sitting with them.
"Was young master always this strong? Have you ever seen him losing before?"
"Yes"
Hearing Momo's short reply has caused the three of them feeling disheartened. To cause a person this powerful to lose... what kind of world the two of them have been living?!
Kim wanted to see more of Kiria as he was curious how strong other mana users are but seeing how Kiria moved around too much reminded him of mosquitos which made him feel annoyed. So, he grabbed Kiria by the face an accidentally put more strength when he smashed Kiria to ground.
'Shoot! Did I killed him?'
The loud sound of the impact resonating throughout the whole training hall which left an unforgettable mark in the heart of the crowd who witness that moment. That newbie, no... Kim is more powerful than Kiria! An earthen is more powerful than an otherworlder! Not just any otherworlder, but the most powerful one in this guild!
Kim crouched down and poked Kiria to check whether he was alive or not. He only wanted to test him and did not expect to kill him in the process!
One second, two seconds, three seconds. Three seconds have passed and Kiria was still on the ground without moving an inch. Everyone turned their eyes toward Leila who was raising her arm.
"Kiria is unable to continue the fight. I declare the winner of this match is Kim!"
That was it. The referee has spoken. There was no objection from the guild master who was overviewing the whole thing as well. Kiria has finally been defeated after sitting on the throne for so many years. After the declaration, there was a loud commotion with a whole mixture of different thoughts regarding the battle. But at the end of the conversation, it was always about how unbelievable it was for Kiria to actually lose.
When Kim exited the stage and walk toward Momo, Kiria's followers finally went to get their leader. Kim did look toward them after finishing Kiria off. But it was only a single look and that single look was enough to tell them 'back off!'. Kim did not say anything, but somehow that was what they have agreed in their mind. Kim only hoped that they would not push the responsibility of killing their so-called leader and hurriedly get out of the place.
Suddenly... Kim sensed a highly unstable fluctuation of mana coming from Kiria whom he thought was dead. Before he managed to turn around, he heard the screaming of several people at Kiria's direction. There were also the shout and gasp coming from the shocked crowd. Every single person in the training hall could not believe what they were watching. Including Kim and guild master Larc.
Kiria was gradually changing. Fur started to grow around his entire body. His nails turned into sharp claws and fangs protruded out from his mouth. His huge stature becoming bigger and bigger until his armour and clothes were ripped apart.
What was more shocking to see was Kiria killing and eating his followers. The more he consumed them the more he was changing.
Kim could not forget this familiar he was sensing.
"This mana, it felt like that werewolf...but"
At least when he was sensing the mana of the werewolf he could feel that he is a human but Kiria has turned into a real monster. His whole mana felt unease like a monster.
Foreseeing a terrible situation, Larc ordered everyone to evacuate the training hall. His priority was Leila since she was the nearest around Kiria. However, Kiria was already rushing toward her with his incredible speed. He could still manipulate the wind as he was before!
Fear and anxiety have already overwhelmed Leila. She could not wipe the shocking action of Kiria gulping his follower alive with no hesitation. She could not even muster a drop of mana to protect herself. Kiria's claw was already in front of her face. The only thing in her mind right then was death!
She closed her eyes trying to accept her death but she could not. Her life will end within milliseconds but all she could think of was her life regrets and her family back home in the kingdom of Varhem. Tears drop from her eyes as she shouted: "I don't want to die!!!"
and Boom! A loud sound of a metal bat slamming against an iron wall exploded throughout the hall.
Leila opened her eyes and saw a large werewolf who was Kiria stood still in front of her. Between them, a large sword of several metres blocked Kiria's claws from touching even a single hair on her body. In that instance, two men approached the scene, one was Larc appearing behind Leila to take her away, another was Kim who appeared beside Kiria delivering a hook kick straight to the neck.
"Take everyone out of here!"
Larc gave a slight nod and brought Leila with him. The moment he stepped outside the ring, Kim unleashed his mana and created a dome made of earth covering the whole battle stage, locking both him and Kiria inside.
"Wake up, doggie. It's time to play"
After recovering from the hit, Kiria howled and behind him a clear image of a demonic-looking wolf forming behind him. The image gradually became smaller and smaller until it was fully absorbed by Kiria which one again changing. He was slowly becoming less human-looking that he was before until the point he was standing with four feet and fully covered with fur! Kiria has truly become a legendary rank demon wolf!
Compare to when he was a human, the wind circling him becoming more vicious. It felt like a thousand sharp knives were flying around him. With explosive mana, he rushed toward Kim at an unbelievable speed but suddenly a myriad of swords come raining from the ceiling of the dome. The swords break through the stormy wind and mercilessly sliced Kiria's flesh making blood gushing out from his body. Then more sword appeared which aimed directly to his four limbs pinning him down.
"Well, well, you thought it's only me, don't you? Welcome to our torture chamber! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Ling glasses almost fell when he heard the evil laughing voice coming from the earth dome.
"Even as a werewolf, Kiria can laugh like a scary person"
Momo wanted to say something but she decided to shut her lips tight.