"Fist of the Mighty Ape!"
"Hurricane Sweep!"
Crash.
After registering for the battles and hearing about the structure of these games, Bas King was excited to start fighting. Inside the caged fighting ring, there were two Hunt Foundation, Fifth Class hunters battling it out. A young lady with green hair, a sweet oval face, and striking eyes sent out a flurry of kicks at a red-haired young man with a freckled face who couldn't seem to build his momentum.
"It's a wood class skill vs and mid-wood class skill, but she is a little better," Bas King rubbed his imaginary beard stubble. The red-haired hunter was using a mid-wood class skill, but his training was insufficient. Meanwhile, his opponents wood class skill was trained to near perfection. This girl was a great martial artist. "But ultimately, its difficult for her to get over the natural strength difference. They should stay about even unless she has something else up her sleeves."
"This masked little brother, are you also an enthusiast? Who is your favorite in this match?" said the husky voice of a LOUD girl with a round physique who suddenly bounced next to Bas on the bleachers. She was cute as a baby pig and had big round green eyes. "The name's Little Piggy. It's your honor, I'm sure."
"I'm actually here to fight," Bas King wore an amused face that was hidden by his mask. Only his eyebrows gave away his expression as he observed this chubby little social butterfly. He had seen her bouncing around the arena trying to talk with people, merely most of them ignored her and shooed her away. Bas was different because he knew no one would approach him due to his veiled appearance. The fact that this one had done so, could only mean that they were somehow fated, "I actually don't know much about either fighter, but I would think the girl will win in the end."
Little Piggy invited herself to Bas' party and started running her mouth as if she knew him from a past life, "Marsha Logan has a record of 12-7, which is pretty awesome. Would you believe I go to school with her? Well, I've seen her on the campus twice. Anyway, she's ranked 57th on the underground leader board for the Fifth Class. Her opponent, Marcus Bloom, is ranked 51st with a record of 19-9. He's famed for his Mighty Ape Record, which is a max wood class Hunt Record. I hear he's trained his wood class skill to the most basic level.
"What about you? What is your ranking?" Bas King knew this chick was a hunter with a glance. She was a sixth level Hunt Neophyte, more powerful than Bas expected.
"I'm ranked 97th with a record of 4-15, hehe," giggled Little Piggy. Bas nearly fell over after hearing this. It was actually so bad? Little Piggy didn't notice anything and chirped, "This little brother, what rank are you?"
"Rank 113," Bas King stated indifferently. His ranking was sure to rise by the end of the day.
"Wah?! Doesn't that mean you haven't even fought yet?" asked Little Piggy, frantically checking the automated pamphlet in her hand. "Ah, I see. Bazzy Dagod, hehe. How domineering. So your next match will be your very first one, right?"
"No. Well, yes. Anyway, how could you tell?" asked Bas feeling a little surprised at the girl's accurate presumption.
Bas had participated in countless battles, but they were all relics of the past. In this life, his last fight ended in tragedy. Answering no was the most suitable response.
"There are only 100 Ranks on the Underground Leader Board. All those who rank beyond 100 simply haven't fought yet, otherwise, they would rank on the leader board," replied Little Piggy matter-of-factly. "You can only challenge someone within 10 ranks of your own. That means you have to challenge someone else who hasn't fought first, before challenging one of us 90s rankers."
Bas smiled wryly. Listening to Little Piggy made it sound like to be ranked at the bottom was a glorious thing. However, as Bas wasn't even on the board yet he had no right to judge her. Back in the battle cage, Marsha Logan had her legs scissored around Marcus' neck. He was quickly losing consciousness as he struggled to escape, but her inner hunt qi was simply too powerful for him to resist. It completely made up for their natural strength difference in this hold. He submitted with a tap because he couldn't speak.
"Winner, Marsha Logan, Rank 51st!" said the old man battle announcer as he held up the victor's arm. The crowd cheered and booed her equally as she flicked her green hair and shot her opponent a glare of disdain. She seemed about to withdraw from the battle cage. Bas King stood up, and Little Piggy glanced at him in bewilderment.
"You can't do that, their above your rank!" cried Little Piggy anxiously.
"I know another way to advance quickly," Bas King winked at Little Piggy, who was just about to protest more. But before she had a chance she heard Bas shouting out, "ISSA FLUKE! Marsha only won because she let him taste it! You could never defeat a real warrior."
Bas King decided that this "Bazzy" pseudonym would behave tyrannically like a monster in human form. Actually, this was Bas' default personality before his descendent Sebastian started to influence him. Sure enough, Marsha's steps abruptly stopped, her eyes sharp and venomous as she stared back at this scourge, Bas. Her face darkened when she noticed his hunt qi cultivation was the same as her own, Eighth Level Hunt Foundation, Fifth Class. He had reached the sky foundation as well, but so what? Did he think he could defeat her like that? Everyone in the Top 50 was at the Sky Foundation level. It would take a lot more than just a solid cultivation base to climb the ranks.
"Scram your ass the fuck down here," spat Marsha angrily as she pointed right as Bas, turning her head to the referee tables. "Ref, I want this bitch dead next, let's start the fight."
"Underground Rank 113, do you dare to accept this challenge?" asked one of the three elders at the referee desk who wore grey robes. The words 'do you dare' echoed around the hall. Bas was certain this elder had some relation to this girl.
"Hmph, battle, why not battle?" Bas shrugged his shoulders as he walked down to the battle cage.
When she heard this, Marsha Logan frowned. Rank 113? Didn't that mean he hadn't battled before today? The ranks 101-125 changed daily. Either he was so pathetically weak that he fell to the bottom of the barrel, or he had just arrived today! Then did this kid intentionally goad her into a battle? He wanted a shortcut challenge!
"Fuck..." Marsha was an eighth level Hunt Foundation hunter. With her agile mind, she quickly realized that she had been manipulated. Her anger only intensified.
Marcus Bloom was being escorted away, but as he passed by he whispered something to Bas that made the eyes of the latter shine. Bas just smirked and kept moving forward. After the battle announcer opened the gate for him, Bas flipped into the ring.
"This kid is a little interesting..." Brenda Evans, the sexy announcer for the Fifth Class and peak Fourth Class matches had an intrigued glint in her eyes as she observed this Bazzy Dagod.
"What could be interesting about this little punk?" Brenda's father, Sid Evans, replied when he heard his daughters remark. He didn't find this Bazzy Dadouché exciting at all.
"He clearly spoke out just to goad the opponent. However, even I would have to slaughter him for his remark if it were me. If he loses the fight, he would forever be a loser." Brenda replied lightly, amused at her father's reaction.
"He may even lose his life to Marsha's supporters or Marsha herself." Replied Sid Evans without a shred of emotion.
"However, if he wins he would be catapulted to fame and resources." Brenda replied matter-of-factually. "I seem to remember a certain rowdy youth who used a similar tactic during his first match. Let's see what he does."
"The child is too arrogant," Sid Evans crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he spoke to his daughter.
He knew what Brenda was insinuating, but he didn't buy it. How could someone as young as Bas have possibly reached the eighth level of Hunt Foundation without acquiring a shaky and unstable foundation? Sid Evans didn't believe it was possible in Mortalee. "He will not amount to much, even if he wins. The shortcut may be quicker, but that battle experience during the ascension is irreplaceable. He's already spoiled himself."
Listening to her father speak to here, Brenda Evans felt his words contained some truth. She stared disappointingly at Bazzy Dagod, far less enthused, waiting to see her father's words come to life.
"I know what you want to do, but I won't let you win so easily!" Marsha pulled out a butterfly blade and readied herself to attack at the first notice.
Seeing that Marsha actually dared to pull out her weapon, Bas frowned. That sword was a bronze class weapon! He did not have a weapon and hadn't realized that weapons were not prohibited.
"Don't blame me for not being polite then!" Yelled Bas King as his muscles tightened and his stance lowered. He was pissed. All he did was talk a bit of trash and this woman wanted his life? How preposterous. 'Hmph, daring to pull out a weapon on this deity? So much for keeping a low profile. I'll have to teach this little dove a lesson.'
"Who is that guy?"
"Rank 113? Must be his first time."
"He actually pissed off the 51st ranked? This kid doesn't know how high the sky really is."
"Look at his battle stance, though! He almost looks like an expert."
"His aura is so...sharp. It's intimidating even from here. What kind of arte do you think he's training?"
"Probably a weak one, that peaks too early. We've seen too many of those."
"I don't know, this one seems different. He might be a black horse in today's fights."
"The following contest will be Rank 51 - Marsha Logan challenging Rank 113 - Bazzy Dagod!" the current battle announcer took to the stage to start the battle. He read the rules to both fighters before exiting the stage and waving his hand. "CONTEST BEGIN! FIGHT!"