Three minutes earlier...
Zora wasn't expecting the little guy to pack so much punch.
Well, not him. The deer, or whatever it was.
Zora took to standing. Bastian was petting the elk's hind legs. She frowned, and raised her fists, adopting a boxing stance.
Fistfighting II was aiding her, so she was an expert boxer with monstrous strength.
She scanned the man.
This Bastian guy was stronger than her by 10 levels. He was likely a World Ranker.
Doesn't matter.
"Are you ready?" Bastian asked politely.
"Shut up-"
"Okay," Bastian said quietly, snatching the coin out of the air.
A dark portal materialized beside him, made out of what seemed to be pure darkness. From it, a thick cobra as tall as her slithered out.
It was pitch black, with spots of white patterned all over its hood.
Starry Cobra - Level 18
The Starry Cobra is the lesser version of the Galatic Cobra, a B-Grade beast. The Starry Cobra has the potential to reach the C-Grade, rendering each one valuable. Their poison glands are also valuable and used for crafting or alchemy.
"Go easy on her, Gerathon." Bastian said. The snake hissed, showcasing deadly black fangs.
Easy? Zora thought incredulously. He just told it to go easy on me? I'm not weak!
Zora raised her fists. Her Dao of the Fist powered her body.
Gerathon lunged toward her, its mouth stretching wider and wider. Zora frowned.
She could take this. Anyone with a decent amount of talent could punch above their weight grade.
But she wasn't interested in fighting a snake. No, she would go for the source.
Zora darted to the side at the last moment, letting Gerathon bite air. She took off running, closing the distance between her and Bastian.
Zora threw a punch.
A gigantic finger flicked her forehead, causing her to stumble back. Zora blinked and then looked at Bastian in surprise.
A colossal gorilla stood right behind him, two muscled arms touching the ground like pillars around the short man. Zora scanned it.
Demonic Gorilla - Level 26
Native to the original demon planet and Nebula training ground, Hell. These beasts are strength-focused and surprisingly agile. Upon sighting one, extermination is recommended.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Zora muttered.
"Kovo," Bastian said, addressing the ape. Kovo snorted. "Beat her up."
Kovo vanished.
Zora's eyes widened. Where did he-
The ape reappeared right in front of her.
Zora's fist immediately shot out, powered by Essence, enough force to blow off a pre-System human's head.
One. Kovo moved his head to the side, blood-red eyes seeming amused.
Two. Another swing. Kovo dodged again.
He countered with a heavy straight of his own, his punch rocking Zora's head back. For a moment, the world went blurry, blood leaking from her nose.
Her body snapped back into boxing position.
Faster this time.
One-two!
Kovo weaved again, reacting with a slightly more powerful punch.
Zora's body snapped back so far that it was parallel to the ground, her knees bent at a 90-degrees angle.
Zora snapped back, again.
One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-
Kovo released an annoyed snort and smacked her to the side. His heavy hand crashed into her ribs, shattering a few of them and sending her flying.
Zora was still flying away, eyes blank and mouth open, when Gerathon appeared right beside her.
The snake halted her eventual collision course with a building by constricting around her with impossible speed.
Gerathon brought its head toward Zora's, opening its mouth and then closing it again in jest. Its body, however, was constricting tighter and tighter, and-
Zora's eyes snapped open.
A wave of Essence and Dao exploded from her.
"METEOR FIST!"
Every spectator received the impression of a falling meteor intent on destroying everything. Zora broke through the snake's binding, splitting it in half.
You leveled up! You are now level 17.
Zora looked... Worse for the wear.
Her entire arm seemed shrunken, steam curling off of it. Her body was riddled with bruises and wounds.
Bastian stared.
"W-What..." He began, eyes widening dangerously. He still seemed polite about it. "I-I'm sorry, Gerathon. Kovo. Don't hold back-"
Zora was already there, launching a punch with her other hand. Bastian raised his hand, catching the punch.
Of course. Even as a Beast Tamer, his attributes would still rise.
The next second, the ape's fist connected with her stomach. Zora gaped, Bastian's eyes apolgetice. An aura surged through him and Kovo, and Zora was sent flying into the air.
The deer stomped on the ground, lifting a giant boulder and sending it flying toward Zora.
Kovo leaped up into the air, catching the boulder. Zora thought that it was planning to protect her, but she was proven wrong when Kove spun to slam the boulder into her mid-air.
One more!
"METEOR FIST!"
The world darkened. Zora's fist shone purple.
Kovo's eyes widened.
The boulder shattered, a shockwave spreading from the point of impact. Her fist buried into his fur, sending him flying into the ground.
Kovo's punch had sent her 50 feet into the air. And now, as she fell, both her arms limp, Zora found that it took all her effort to remain conscious.
"Well... Shit..." She laughed.
Prince, after having just announced that he had killed Marcus, looked up.
When she was close enough, he leaped into the air, the floorboard under his feet cracking.
Zane, however, had also jumped.
He gave Prince a meaningful look as they were both suspended in the air.
I see, Prince smirked. He did a backflip midair, halting his momentum and instead sending him landing back where he started.
Zane caught her, landing on the ground light. He glared at Bastian.
Bastian quietly checked on Kovo, who had made a sizeable crater. "Come on," He said, snapping his fingers. Kovo vanished, instead appearing on the back of his neck as a tattoo no one had noticed before.
A dark portal appeared beside him. The deer walked into it, instead of turning into a tattoo.
"I'm..." Bastian sighed. "Sorry. I didn't intend to hurt you all. I was bound by a System Contract. I won't get into the details." He gave Prince a determined stare.
"I would like to join you." He said.