Vrrrrmmmmmm...
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
BINK!
Eighth level of Hunt Foundation!
Soul power level 15
"I did it, I did it!" Bas stood up and stretched, laughing like a madman, "Sky foundation stage! I've finally reached it. These last five days were truly not in vain. And my soul power has jumped forward three entire levels as well."
Bas was ecstatic because he had come so far without relying on a single pill or any resources from the King clan. His body felt limber and powerful. If he started Drug Production, how fast would he improve then?
"Fifth Class hunters can't read their stats with a mecha-hand. However, if I'm not mistaken, Fifth Class hunters won't have a value of more than nine for any stats. However, the current me is already more powerful than I was at the peak of the foundation stage during my previous life, where I had at least a nine in all parameters," thought Bas patiently. "My soul power is currently level 15. Reaching level ten allowed me to refine my hunter skill. I've practiced the first hunt skill, Evil Dragon's Claw, to the peak of the wood grade. Now, Evil Dragon Claw is a wood-grade hunt skill with strength comparable to a bronze-grade hunter skill, maybe even weaker silver-grade skills.
"It multiplies my strength, constitution, and charm points by four. Only those who have practiced silver-grade hunter skills or better can contend against it if we're at the same level. Most silver-grade skills increase affected parameters nearly five times, which is scary. With this skill, I can even battle early fourth-class hunters, as long as they aren't using maxed-out bronze-grade skills."
Hunter Statistics are based on seven core values: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Constitution, Charm, Wisdom, and Luck.
With a mecha hand, one could read their own stats via the bio-connection. However, true elites could measure it with their spiritual sense alone. In the era where Bas originated, they didn't have such a thing as Hunter Statistics, just like he had never heard of a Rym Masonry before. Bas would also be able to ascertain his own statistics once he confirmed the way they were calculated in this new era.
This era was ultimately very different from his own. A lot of time must have passed. Reincarnation was said to take up to 100 generations for the great pharaoh. How long was a generation? It was at least 30 years!
"In retrospect, 300 or so years isn't actually that long," this was a number of years passed that didn't depress a great pharaoh. Bas felt satisfied with his progress and was eager to battle another hunter to test his strength.
He wanted to see what the hunters of this era could do. Unfortunately, he was surrounded by mortals. No one noticed the Light of Enlightenment striking him, which should have caused at least a slight commotion. Bas felt that some recluse hunter should have at least come to investigate. Yet there was no one.
Bas' spiritual pool within his glabella had expanded thanks to the light of enlightenment, skipping the level of a spiritual stream and lake; it directly advanced into a spiritual sea. This was the mental capacity of a Second Class hunter, while Bas was only a little Fifth Class hunter.
This was the difference between a producer and a mason!
"Production and Masonry...interesting." Bas felt this world was full of strange new things, and he couldn't wait to explore its secrets himself.
He was a professional Pyromancer and Force Producer in his previous incarnation. His Force Production was centered around Drug Production and Script Production, the big money makers. These were skills that he hadn't lost during reincarnation. He could still feel the fire force in the air and knew where the highest concentrations were just by closing his eyes.
Even though force had become hunt ryms, it didn't change the origin. If Bas was near any fire ryms, he could probably manipulate them at will.
Of course, he wouldn't be able to form attacks with pyromancy while only at the Fifth Class unless he formulated a battle flame. However, how could Bas survive integration with a battle flame at the Hunt Foundation rank?
Even with his natal fire, this was wishful thinking.
But thanks to that same natal fire, all he needed was time.
"Now is a good time to check out those underground fights I've heard about."
Two days ago, a co-worker bragged to Bas about how epic the underground hunter tournaments were this year. Underground Hunters were those who secretly practiced Hunter Artes in the mortal world. While most of these 'so-called' hunters were mere Hunt Neophytes, Bas hoped he would encounter a Peak Hunt Foundation, Fifth Class, or maybe even a Hunt Expert, Fourth Class Hunter.
Hunt Experts were especially tough and just what Bas needed to test the limits of his strength. He estimated that he should be able to fight against a three-star Hunt Expert, but a four-star Hunt Expert would probably be too powerful for him to match.
"Anyway, no longer anyone in my class could be considered a threat."
Bas was 70% positive about this. But he could not be 100% positive.
After all, Lucara Angels was an enigma. He had no way to gauge her strength temporarily. However, she was likely in a class above his own. Now that he had become a mason, he could investigate her more thoroughly when they met again.
After washing up in the bathroom and briefly cooking for his mother, Bas departed the apartment building, cruising on his hoverbike all the way to the entrance of the sewage system for the entire metropolis. He locked his hoverbike up at hoverbay a few blocks away before venturing in on foot.
Deep within the sewers, it was like a never-ending maze that traveled the length of the enormous metropolis. If the electronic invitation didn't guide guests, Bas would definitely get lost a few times. Luckily, as long as the light on the little invitation was green and not red, Bas could be sure he was walking the right way.
After walking for a dozen miles under the city, Bas actually sensed the presence of extremely vital hunt ryms. This was a clear sign that hunters were gathered. Bas grew excited as he had not interacted with his own kind for a few years. Walking out of a tunnel into an open space, Bas saw hundreds of people surrounding a combat ring inside a metal cage. He was relatively shocked. Shocking still was the fact that two out of five of these hundreds of people were actually hunters!
The fighting pit was far cleaner than expected from a pitch-black place that stank of waste. The walls were lined with banners colored in all the colors of the rainbow. Weapons hung from the wall or sat on pedestals nearby. Above them, advertisements featuring women clad in the new bathing suits mingled with pictures of exotic animals attacking people.
Rows of polished wooden benches for spectators were interspersed with plaques bearing the names of sponsors and other advertisements. Plush velvet chairs lined along white paneled walls led to an enormous stage at the foot of the stands.
Bas had never seen so many hunters in mortal society, let alone all gathered in one place. After a quick sweep of his second-class spiritual sense, Bas instantly detects two individuals with fourth-class hunt ryms. Thanks to improving his spiritual abilities, no one here could detect his probing. Unless, of course, he encountered another mason.
What were the odds of that?
One was an old man dressed in black with a flaxen goatee. His hair, long and loose, was as white as lard. He sat next to a girl in a mask with fiery red hair. The other was vulgar: a breathing mountain of muscles standing guard in front of a blonde-haired gentleman with eyes the color of the clear blue sky.
Bas wondered what type of personage would need to hire a Hunt Expert as a bodyguard. The wages must be quite impressive, to say the least, "Maybe I should consider working as a bodyguard? There are far easier ways to earn money, but good fights are hard to find."
"Harlots and animals, welcome all to the Underground Hunter Tournament! The winner of tonight's third match and still the Fifth Class Champion of the Underworld Cup, Texas Banger!"
"Oooohhh!!"