Chapter 11: Martial Stage
"Hey have you heard"
"What?"
"Apparently there's a young man so handsome that people who catch glimpse are struck dumb at the sight of him."
"Are you serious?"
"Yea, they say whether your women or men you'll be shocked stiff by his appearance. I even heard that he'd been challenged to a duel on the Martial Stage over 10 times! Apparently they were all young men who had seen their girlfriends literally fling themselves at the young man!"
"Hahaha! Stop lying! No one is so good looking!"
"Who's lying? Its just a rumor I've heard, who know if its true."
Outside Merchants Guild
"Do you dare accept?!", yelled a young man, the veins on his forehead bulging.
"Agh~...Like I've said, I haven't done anything and I'm not interested in fighting you" Aaron sighed.
This was the 14th one. Ever since they started making there way down to the Merchants Guild, he had been ogled at as if he was a exhibit at a museum. He didn't even get a chance to ask the system how he completed a mission he never accepted.
At one point there had been a group of young women surrounding him shrieking in his ears like banshees. Luckily, Veronica had started acting as a bodyguard of sorts and chased them away. He had seriously started to consider wearing a mask. However he really didn't want to hide his face, he spent a wish on it!
'Agh~...Why must things be so difficult',he cried in his heart
"Ben! Enough! Stop bothering him!", yelled a young woman about 16 years old
"Shut up! You don't even know him yet you defend him?! You're my woman!", yelled Ben.
"I don't belong to anyone!" she yelled.
Ignoring the fuming young man she turned around to speak to this angel on earth.
"Forget about hi-.....", she found herself unable to speak after turning around.
He had left! She had lost her angel! She turned and glared at Ben.
"This is your fault! You had to distract me!", she yelled while charging at him.
"Have lost your mind?!" Ben shouted. He had know idea why he was being attacked but it didn't matter he blamed Aaron nonetheless. However, this was of no concern to Aaron who had already left.
The Merchants Guild was a massive building, about 4 stories tall situated just north of the Southern Gate's main road made, near the center of the city. It was constructed with the same white brick as the rest of the city. At the main entrance one could see 2 massive Corinthian columns on each side holding up a balcony on the 2nd floor, it looked quite elegant. Above the door was a golden circle with an image of a black wagon with golden wheels inside it. This was the symbol of the merchants guild.
After they had entered he still got stares but no one surrounded him like earlier. They approached the young women at the counter.
"Welcome to the Merchants Guild. How may I help-?". She paused when she looked at Aaron.
'Holy shit! Is he real? Whats with that robe? Golden Eyes?!', her mind couldn't process all this information. From his clothing to his face, it was far too much to take in.
Veronica noticed her staring at Aaron and scoffed.
Bam!
She slammed her hand on the counter waking the women from her stupor.
"Where here to sell." she said coldly.
"Ah...Yes, excuse me. Just hand me the items and we can have them valued for you."
The Red Bands than proceeded to give her everything but the antlers ,that they had gotten from the Crystal Antler Deer. After she received the items, she called over an assistant and had him take the materials to the back where they would be assessed. They went to sit and chatted while they waited. It took roughly 20 mins before they got a quote.
"We can offer you 15 gold and 50 silver", she said.
"Sounds good.", said Andrew who was smiling from ear to ear. This just was enough for them to upgrade there weapons!
After receiving the the payment they left. They went down to the Smiths Guild which was to the east of the city center and told the workers what kind of upgrades the wanted. Andrew wanted the edges of his sword coated with the Crystal antlers, Veronica would get 20 Crystal tipped Arrows, Josh couldn't decide if he wanted the ball or the Scythe coated, in the end he went with the scythe. Jasmine already had her wooden sword which was a Grade 4 weapon, so instead she chose to have her chest plate coated. After explaining what they wanted and confirming they would supply the materials the cost came out to 12 gold and 20 silver. After paying they were told to come back the same time tomorrow.
Now that they had finished all the errands they need to run they started taking Aaron around town. Aaron was thoroughly enjoying himself, he was in a world so far different from his own that everything seemed new and exciting. Veronica also did a great job keeping the stalkers away.
As they begin to head towards the city center they heard a commotion. As they approached the the sounds they saw a crowd forming around a 50 ft wide stage made of the same moon stone as everything else. It was raised about 10 inches off the ground and in the shape of a circle.
"Hahaha, Elliot just give up. You're not my match.", a middle age bald man said while looking down on a young man who was on his knees, he had short curly blond hair, blue eyes, and a semi-muscular build. He appeared to be a commoner based on his clothing which lacked much color and was made of rough fabrics.
"Clive! Unless the take back what you said I'll never back down!", yelled Elliot
"Why? Your parents were cowards who fled the army when those bastards from Black Mountain attacked 15 years ago. I was part of the garrison and saw them flee with my own eyes!"
"They came to rescue me!", Elliot retorted while seeing red!
Clive was his new neighbor in the commoners district. He had never spoken to Elliot before, however today as he was leaving his house he saw Clive leaving his house as well. Since they were both headed in the same direction they started chatting for the first time. Clive had asked about his parents knowing that he was orphan. Elliot trying to be friendly to his neighbor explained his his parents died when Black Mountain attacked, Clive hearing this asked about their names, thinking he might have known them. However, after he told him who would have thought that he would begin to insult them!
"Rescue you? Stop making excuse, the ran away. They were cowards!"
Elliot couldn't listen anymore, even though he was 19 he was only at the Early Body Tempering realm. Having no talent or resources, his path of martial arts was destined to be a short one. Clive was at the Peak Body Tempering realm, however this didn't matter to Elliot as he felt no fear. He stood up and took 4 steps back then swung his right leg at Clive's ribs. Clive smirked then rushed at Elliot, grabbing his leg he pushed his shoulder into Elliot's chest than pulling his leg up, he lifted him off the ground!
Slam!
He smashed Elliot into the ground almost shattering his back and knocking the air out of him. Without delay he started raining punches down on the poor young man. Elliot could only lift his arms in attempt to cover his face, however his eyes never showed any fear only determination!
"Hahaha! Get him Clive!", yelled someone who apparently knew Clive.
"The boys outta' his mind thinking he could take someone who trained in the army"
The crowed was watching the fight as it were mere entertainment. They thought the young man had brought this onto himself challenging the bald man.
"Whats going on? He'll kill him if this continues", Aaron asked. The younger man was clearly outclassed in every category. If the bald man didn't stop he could beat him to death!
"Don't worry, he wont kill him", Veronica said with a smirk on her face.
"Hehehe, This is the Martial Stage all those guys wanted to challenge you on Aaron. However there's a rule for those who fight on it, 'You are not allowed to kill anyone on the Martial Stage', breaking this rule will result in your own death", said Jasmine.
"So that's how it is" , Aaron nodded. Still he couldn't help but look at Clive with disdain, He had clearly won yet he continued to beat his opponent. He was taking advantage of the rule. Aaron was so preoccupied with the fight that he didn't notice the crowed was starting to shift there attention from the fight to him.
Clive eventually stopped hitting the young man, Elliot's face was swollen and bruised, he was almost about to pass out. Still he never once begged for mercy or thought of running away.
"Do you understand the difference in our abilities yet boy!" Clive yelled. He was still angry but knew he couldn't kill Elliot. He began to stand up and leave when he heard a commotion to his left. Looking over he saw that half of the audience hadn't even been watching! He tried to get a better look at what or who was stealing his limelight! He began walking over but before he could see what was going on he heard someone arguing.
"How dare you!",Veronica shouted in anger.
While she was busy watching the fight she and the others hadn't noticed a shadow moving towards Aaron. Suddenly, she heard Aaron yelp, looking over she saw a woman in her late teens grabbing Aaron. Before she could make a move the whore had actually kissed him on the cheek!
He had been tainted! Her angel had been tainted! How could she remain calm?!
"What? Are you his girlfriend or something?", asked the young women while still hanging onto Aaron.
"Eh....", Veronica didn't know what to say. Before she could come up with response Aaron had already moved away from the woman.
"Do you just go around grabbing and kissing strangers?!", he yelled at the woman. He was shocked by what happened had literately stopped moving for a moment after it happened. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe being good looking could bring such trouble. To think he would be so openly taken advantage of!
"I just couldn't help myself, can you blame me? Isn't your fault for looking so good?", she responded looking as if she had wronged.
'Its not my fault you look like an angel! Any woman would lose herself!'
Aaron was stunned, it was his fault? Bullshit! This woman is insane!
Clive watching the the whole thing from on the stage was just as shocked. Damn! What a face! How could anyone look that? Did he fall from the heavens? He was so beautiful that he began to feel a tinge of jealousy.
'Bastard! Not only were you blessed with that face you also have the nerve to steal my limelight!
However, upon closer inspection he noticed the kid didn't have any Qi. Suddenly a thought flashed in his mind.
'I'll take you down a notch!'
Aaron was still arguing with the woman when he heard someone scoffing at him.
"Just a pretty face but weak. Better be careful, you're looks might bring you trouble you can't handle"
Looking up he noticed that it was the bald man on the stage.
'What the hell? What did I do to you?', Aaron was a loss. Today he had experienced so many bizarre things that he was starting to wonder if he had been cursed. Still he couldn't take someone threatening him lightly.
"Are you speaking about me?", he responded
"Who else? You might have looks but your so weak that it doesn't matter. Someone could just take you and sell you if they felt like it", Clive shot back. He wanted to get Aaron angry enough that he would challenge him.
Aaron immediately saw through his plans, he was about to respond when the woman who had assaulted him shouted.
"You! Bald man! You're just jealous, If you had 1/10th of his looks you'd thank the heavens! Even without Qi any woman would pick him over you!"
"Bitch! How dare you insult me!", Clive lost his cool immediately. He was never one who knew how to control his emotions. However before they could continue arguing someone jump onto the stage.
It was Aaron.
He couldn't just stand there anymore, this man was asking for a beating. He would comply and give him what so he obviously desires.
Elliot who had dragged himself off the stage moments ago stared at the young man on the stage. He was wrapped in luxurious white robes with a golden trim. On his back, what could only be described as a golden feather rob flew in wind. His face was beyond anything words could describe but his most prominent feature were his eyes! Gold! They were Golden! Just by looking at the young man on stage he very clearly saw and felt the difference between them. They were from two different worlds!
Clive was about to speak but before he could get a word out he heard screams that almost caused his ears to bleed.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Oh lord, is he human?! Beautiful! Too Beautiful!"
"Little brother, are you single! I'll come with you right now if you ask!"
"A child like you wouldn't catch his interest. Surely he would want a mature woman like myself to take care of him!"
"Who would want and old hag like you?!"
"Who are you calling a hag?!"
All around the stage women were going crazy. The moment Aaron took the stage it was as if the sun itself had taken human form. He was far too radiant, far too dazzling!
Clive couldn't take it, he charged Aaron without warning!
Aaron smiled, he would only use the Six styles to fight Clive. He wasn't strong enough to warrant using his abilities but he could be used for practice. He stepped forward.
"Kami-e"