"With this... I think we can handle the top 700 at least within Reinthair Kingdom without much issue."
"Top 700? You didn't say anything about this before." Claude gave Ken a look.
Ken bowed his head instantly.
"It uh... slipped my mind. I apologize! There are elites within that savage kingdom which are either rogues or knights, they are called the Top 1000 Savages. The weakest person in that list has a High Tier 2 ability! For reference, normal people don't have any abilities and if they did it would be High Tier 1 at most. Regular knights have at least Supreme Tier 1 and Commanders have at least Low Tier 4 abilities." He explained how abilities fared in Reinthair Kingdom.
"How about the so-called Rejected? What's his ability Tier?" Claude needed information about the person he's going to play a game with.
"The rumors say that he already reached Low Tier 6! This kind of ability could only be seen within High Humans so people speculate that he is actually a High Human playing around with us." Right now, Ken wasn't fully focused on the conversation as he admired his new equipment. All he wanted to do right now was run into the forest then try out his new ax.
He didn't even bother to ask Claude where he got it as all he was concerned right now was that he had it. The price of this armor is basically priceless and would only be fit to be worn by royalty or heroes.
"Too bad these games don't just rely on battle prowess. If it was then this would be simple. Anyways, let's get going." He waved his hand and a car fit for off road travel was in front of them. He ordered Ruby to drive and sent her the coordinates of the kingdom.
The trip was relatively smooth except for that one time where a group of 20 bandits ambushed them. The reason for their ambush was that the thing they were riding was convinent for travel and they wanted it.
Needless to say, Ken managed to get battle experience, something he never thought would be happening. He knew he would need to kill people and steeled himself but actually doing it made him hesitate a little.
He finally gave in after a near death experience of a dagger almost stabbing his neck. A mighty roar came from him and activated his ax and caused four people to go towards him against their will. In one simple strike, four heads flew in the sky. Then another four more flew then another and then another until what was left was a path paved with blood.
After everything was done, Claude offered a few words then poured water over him as to clean the blood.
When they arrived at Reinthair Kingdom, Ken was mentally prepared to kill.
The guards didn't really care about who entered or not but spoke up, "Hey kids! Are ya an enemy?"
Claude was confused as to why the guards would ask that, if you could even call them that. So he went with the interesting option, "Oh yes I am!"
"Well, doesn't matter anyways. There's no treasure ya can take here. Have fun!" The guard gestured them to enter.
Claude was struck with the impression that this kingdom couldn't possibly function. As soon as he entered the gates, he was utterly speechless on how correct he was. He only had a step inside but there was already a body thrown in front of him begging for help. He was covered in fresh cuts and was bleeding all over.
"Help... me please! I... have kids! I-I didn't mean to... step on your foot, sir." He was coughing up blood as he was speaking but the man didn't stop walking towards him as be brandished his two swords. People was looking at the scene as if it was normal then looked away.
Claude didn't really see any reason to help him unless he could be of use to him but Ken on the other hand still had a relatively good heart. Although Ken cheats and is very lustful, he still has a bottom line which is clearly being violated by the man with dual swords.
"STOP!" Ken's voice drowned out the voices by nearby chatter stopped then continued after a brief moment. He showed his ax and struck it down on the ground in front of the bleeding man.
"That's enough! Go mind your own business!" Ken was firm with his resolve and thought that it was the right thing to do.
Claude sighed thinking about how much trouble he's going to be in after this. He needed time to plan out his game against the Rejected and this event might escalate the game to a nearer date.
The man in front of him brandished his swords then a spark occured and both his arms and swords burst into flames! People around them now started to notice what was going on.
"That person has to be at least in the top 800!"
"No, my guess is around the top 740."
"You idiots! At least top 700! There's no one I heard that has a flame ability within those ranks."
Although the Top 1000 Savages were a known title, not everyone knew who was part of it since they would only show up when Reinthair Kingdom was being attacked, this was the situation they came to an agreement with.
Of course, one of the Top 1000 Savages could show their name and rank by a medal given to them by royalty. These medals give them special previllages that show their prestige. They could anything they wanted as long as they don't betray the kingdom.
Considering the chaotic kingdom, those previllages didn't matter a lot since crimes here didn't matter as long as you don't affect the important people.
Ken was resolved and lifted his ax, as he was about to swing he realized that he couldn't move it at all, as if it was stuck on place. This was weird considering that it was in mid air.
Claude came from behind and offered a few words.
"I'll handle this so back off. We can't let people know about your equipment for the time being. I'll only allow you to use it if your life is in danger otherwise you can't anything."
Those words struck hard at Ken's mind as he was forced to do anything. It was already quite a while but he was still Claude's slave, there was nothing he could do.
"He'll be getting his punishment accordingly so I'll take my leave now, I apologize for taking your prey." Claude had a humble and warm smile on him as he talked.
"Nah! I've been itching for a fight! Here, my medallion!" The man with flaming arms and swords showed his medal.
"Top 686, Dual Flaming Swords."
"I want a duel to the death! If I win then you will be my slave. State what you want!"
This was one of the previllages that comes along with the medal, it forces one to a duel of which he cannot decline. The catch is that if the challenged person won then he will win the winning conditions of both parties.
"Fine. If I win then I want your spot in the Top 1000 Savages."
Also another catch, the challenger cannot decline the winning conditions of the challenged.
"Let's duel!"
A blood colored light enveloped them both as they are teleported in another space where if one looked around there are other people fighting at the same time. This was the official fighting arena of the duels. There was a screen that showed the duel, this screen appeared where Claude and the man vanished.
Although the man said it was to the death it really was death but that death was not permanent, much like with what happened with Ben.
Claude streched out his arms and started yawning.
"Make your move before I bash your face in!" The man was offended with what Claude was doing, it was as if he wasn't even worthy of his gaze. Yet Claude did nothing.
"DIE!" The man's arms burned even brighter with flames and his swords seemed that it would melt with the intense heat. He dashed towards Claude leaving the floor below him in cracks.
"That kid is dead for sure!"
"Even if he was aware, he wouldn't have the reaction time to deal with that speed and even if he did he would be swallowed up by the flames.
"What a quick duel! Guess that's the Top 1000 Savages for ya!"
Countless sympathetic voices could be heard in the crowd except for one.
"That man sure was cocky."
As soon as the man with the burning swords appeared in front of Claude he opened his eyes and spoke a single word.
"Kneel."
This word seemed to contain pressure as the man started to feel the pressure of a person then another until it reached the weight of ten people but it didn't stop until it reached the weight of an entire mountain.
He couldn't handle it anymore and droped his swords and knelt down just infront of Claude. His expression was of utter confusion with bloodshot eyes he screamed.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!"
The flames on his arms started to burn even hotter. This made Claude uncomfortable and using his "Gravity" he extinguished the flames before they even appeared.
"MY FLAMES! WHAT IS THIS?! WHO ARE YOU?!" He was so confused and scared on what was happening.
He started to struggle and forced his flames to burn more and more as he tried to move his body. All of a sudden he roared and and started to move inch by inch.
Of course, the man wouldn't know it from all of his efforts but Claude was actually weakening his "Gravity" looking amused at how much effort the man was exerting. Since the flame was started to urge out, he increased his "Gravity" once again before forcing the man to kneel down.
He smirked, "Oh, your flames look cool! How about I try them on for size?" He then waved his hands and flames appeared on his arms. All the onlookers were shocked fromt he bottom of their hearts, to them it looked as if Claude used some ability to render the man useless and then stole his ability.
He knew how fire is formed so he ignited a spark then continued to do making it look like he really did take his ability. The man was shocked that he couldn't believe it so he made his flames surge out even more than before.
Though, Claude was ready for this as he increased the gravity even more making the man kiss the ground and his flames extinguished.
He created oxygen inside the flames to make it seems bigger than before creating the illusion that he really did take his ability.
The man was wallowing in despair on what was happening. The spectators were thinking all the same thing, "What kind of ability is that? That is so unfair!"
Meanwhile, Claude finally finished the first step of his plan. Mask his own abilities.
"Sometimes the best way to hide is to be out in the open" He murmured to himself.