"Shit!" Bas King felt the killing intent bursting from this old man, and he could smell the qi of death. This was a spiritual indication that this old fogy's attack was vicious enough to end his little life. "Like I'll let you!"
Bas King closed his eyes and concentrated deeply. Time seemed to still, his surroundings slowly coming to a halt. This was a deep state of focus that could only be achieved by peak deity-level beings. Bas suddenly gripped his butterfly blade in one hand and slashed out with all his strength, his left arm shining with iridescent light transforming into a dangerous claw.
"Evil Dragon's Claw!"
Bang!
The two blades collided and Bas King was sent flying into the battle cage. The impact on his back forced him to cough out blood. Edgar Stratus wasn't much better as he released an agonizing shout. His left hand was chopped off and three blade marks ran up his right arm. If Edgar hadn't been using his hunter rifle, he feared his entire arm would have been shredded. Even worse, the black qi of Bas King seeped into his arm and sapped his vital qi! The life force in his left arm was being rapidly corroded.
"Fuck!" Edgar Stratus screamed as he immediately recognized this sensation. It was the same sensation that led to him wasting away in Mortalee for so many years. "Innate death qi!"
However, wasn't this death qi far too tyrannical?
"You will need to cut off that arm, good friend," Sid Evan's voice appeared next to the still-reeling Edgar Stratus. Edgar glanced up nearly delirious, only to see Sid Evan's cold and emotionless gaze.
He suddenly realized that there was no sympathy for his nephew who had tried to kill a superior hunter. Sid Evan's being within the battle cage right now was only to suppress Edgar, and there could be no other reason. Edgar grit his teeth and turned to use the blade of his rifle to sever his now purple-ish arm, before the death qi's corrosion spread any further. Edgar gnashed his teeth after enduring this trial, wanting nothing more than to chew on the flesh and suck on the bones of Bazzy Dagod, who was currently being supported by Brenda Evans. Brenda's face was colored with concern.
Originally, Sid was worried he reacted too late and thus lost two geniuses in one night. However, to Sid's shock, he didn't even need to worry so much, as Bazzy Dagod was apparently still holding back a lot of power. That Evil Dragon Claw hunter skill possessed the aura of a Max Wood Class hunter skill which could boost stats by up to 10 points, but the strength of Bazzy's hunter skill wasn't quite so simple! In that one instant, Bazzy's strength approached the level of Sid's own might. This was incredible for a mortal, and amazing even for a hunter from the Hunter's Society. Bazzy was definitely an amazing genius, but one question still remained: why was he in Mortalee?
"The winner of this contest is Rank 3rd: Bazzy Dagod!" Sid Evans announced to the crowd.
Edgar Stratus was so angry that he coughed out a vat of blood and collapsed on the spot. Bas King sneered, his arm around the fragrant shoulder of this beautiful woman supporting him as they approached Sid Evans. Bas removed himself from Brenda's grip, much to her surprise, and steadied himself on his feet. Brenda was intrigued, as most men would milk this opportunity to be cradled by a beauty, yet Bas had his own pride. Bas spread his arms out and held his head high in the sky.
"WOOOOOOAAAAAHHHHHH!"
The crowd went absolutely wild with excitement. Francis Stratus killed so many opponents, but even those who defeated him didn't dare to kill or even cripple him. Because Edgar Stratus wasn't merely Francis' uncle. He was a previous champion of the Fourth Class. No one wanted to antagonize this man.
At least, no one did until this Bazzy Dagod showed up! This was a character that put absolutely no one in his eyes. He climbed 100 ranks in mere hours, breaking every record to ever exist in this underground sewage outlet. He was challenged by the third rank hunter and won in such a domineering fashion. Not only that, but his strength was only at Eighth Level Hunt Foundation, Fifth Class.
What kind of madness was this?
Brenda Evans frowned when she saw the first man she had ever touched of her own volition remove her hands from him to showboat in front of a crowd. Meanwhile, Sid Evans couldn't help but smirk when he saw this. This kid earned this glory with his own two hands. Was it possible that he didn't want to bask in it after coming face to face with death once?
Unknown to the father daughter pair, was that the Bas who basked in his own glory was also greedily absorbing all of the faith power that had gathered as a result of the crowds cheers. He felt so good it made him shout.
Sid felt the boy's action showed himself the appropriate amount of respect as well, "As a reward for your incredible achievements, I will award you with 15 gold credits."
Bas' eyes brightened considerably. What kind of a generous old fogy was this guy? Totally not the jerk Bas expected him to be. Of course, this was the preferential treatment one would naturally receive as a talented prospect. It was likely not reflective of Sid's true personality. Of course, with such an amiable and loyal daughter this old man couldn't be so bad either.
"In addition, you will be given the right to challenge the Fifth Class champion." Sid Evans rubbed his beard stubble as he examined this Bazzy Dagod carefully. This kid's face was like a block of solid ice, Sid simply couldn't read his emotions at all. "However, today you have already used your ten challenges. It is time for you to depart from the stage."
"Yes," nodded Bas King. He had already achieved his objectives at any rate, "Sir, may I inquire where I can upgrade my token?"
The teenager who originally issued Bas' ticket, Eric, told Bas that after ten fights he could rank up his token. Now, Bas had precisely ten victories.
Sid Evan's was just about to depart from the area when he looked down surprised, "I can give you the upgrade now. Tell me, where's your token?"
Bas King handed over the bronze token, much to Sid's shock. Bronze? But shouldn't it logically be white?
"Where did you get this, boy?" asked Sid Evans imperiously. He couldn't afford for any secrets to slip past him.
"Eric, at the front counter," Bas King had nothing to hide at all. "He made a mistake so he compensated me with this Bronze Token."
"E..ric?" Sid Evans nodded his head, but in his heart, he was astounded. They didn't have any teenage recruiter named Eric! In fact, how could a mere teenager earn himself a bronze token? Something was fishy here, but Sid wouldn't reveal anything to the clueless boy. "Here."
However, who was Bas King? He immediately noticed that look of confusion on Sid's face. Sure enough, when he used his perception to trace Eric's atmosphere, it had completely vanished. 'Eh? Why would he...'
Sid Evans produced a Silver Token, which proceeded to devour the bronze token of Bas King. He then flicked the token to Bas, who caught it in excitement. This was a hunter tool that could conceal his qi! How great was that?