Back at the beginning of the Tournament of Hundred, this old man seemed very mysterious to Kai. He felt incredibly powerful, yet very skilfully concealed within. Such a thing could only come from masters of the highest order!
- Hm? Are you so sure that you're going to get to Reincarnation Island? - Elder Traen asked with a slight sneer.
It seemed like he wanted to understand this fellow's personality a little better. After all, this was a disciple of a Shadow Elder like himself.
- ''I'm not naive enough to be completely sure of anything. But is it really worth taking part in the Tournament of Hundred if you doubt yourself? - With a smile, Kai asked rhetorically.
- Good answer. Okay, I'll watch you fight. - The old man nodded approvingly and replied.
Having said that, he looked at the other participants and simply stretched his hand forward. At the same moment, all the sheets were lightning fast and flew out of the challengers' hands and flew towards him. He seemed to have already realised perfectly well that everyone was done with choosing an opponent. Still, the Star Sphere master's sense of perception was at an incredibly high level. He could most likely calmly assess almost everything going on in the entire Fatuma Supreme Arena, including the stands.
- So! I announce the results! - thundered the old man, - The Personal Apprentice on the 100th place was chosen by four people at once! The 99th place was chosen by two. The 98th place was also chosen by two! Heh. - The old man said mockingly.
He seemed to think that this strategy was wrong. The only ones who made the right choice in his opinion were the Immortal Drunkard and the Wind Prince. Each of these two had chosen a higher ranked opponent. That said, they would only have one battle where they could really put their best foot forward!
- Thus, there will be a 're-match' for these spots. - explained the old man, - The first fights will be with the 95th and 93rd place Personal Disciples! How will you determine the order? - While announcing this information, Elder Traen asked a question and looked first at Kai and then at the Wind Prince.
Naturally, they wouldn't fight over it since there was no advantage to it. What difference does it make whether to fight now or a little later?
- I generally don't care, how about you? - Kai asked with a smile, shifting his gaze to the Wind Prince.
This guy looked quite handsome. He had good looks and long, blue hair. Also, he had a long sword hanging on his belt at all times, which he didn't hide in the spatial ring, as Kai in turn constantly did.
Previously, Kai had watched each of his battles. The Wind Prince's style justified his nickname, as it seemed that his attribute was also related to air. With the Eyes of Essence, Kai even saw one interesting method of utilising the energy. Namely, covering his weapon with it while thinning it at the tip. This way, the weapon became much sharper and faster as the air created less resistance.
Only, Kai didn't know if he could do the same with his energy. Perhaps this was only an advantage of the Elemental attribute associated with wind.
Hearing Kai's answer, the guy thought for a moment and then replied:
- I don't care either. Let's make things conditionally fair... Let chance decide. Grand Elder, may we have two of our sheets? - The Wind Prince politely gave out and bowed.
This guy seemed to be a very strict but tactful person. His actions were clear and straightforward. His very personality seemed to be connected to the weapons he wielded.
'I guess that's what a real swordsman should be like...' - Kai thought, looking at the blue-haired guy.
As soon as he got the sheets, he quickly folded them, hid them behind his back, and began to stir. After a few seconds, he shifted his gaze to Kai.
- Immortal Drunkard, choose which hand you're holding. - He dryly issued.
It was clear that the Wind Prince himself knew perfectly well in which hand the leaf was in. But since it was Kai who chose, everything was fair. It could really be considered a fluke.
- Left! Hehehe. - Laughing, Kai replied. He liked this guy's modus operandi.
- Then please go ahead! I'll have to watch you fight first. Good luck. - Letting out a slight smile, the Wind Prince replied.
After his words, he calmly reached forward and opened his palm. Naturally, he wasn't lying and there lay Kai's leaf.
- It has been decided! The first battle begins! The Reaper of Fear against the Immortal Drunkard! The second fight will be between Poison Fox and the Wind Prince! Then there will be re-matches for a chance to fight, or someone will change their mind. - Elder Traen solemnly announced and instantly disappeared!
At this moment, the entire Fatum High Arena exploded with applause again! All the spectators had been waiting for this for twenty-four hours! Finally, the final and most interesting part of the Tournament of Hundred was about to begin!
But right now, that wasn't what Kai cared about at all....
'His movements are incredible... It was cool even from a distance, but seeing it up close...' - Pensively mused Kai.
Elder Traen literally seemed like some kind of ghost! Kai even wondered if it was the Shadow Mark Shadow Mark Dance.
'It's been a while since I've developed my travelling technique... I think entering the Sphere of Attraction will be necessary to practice using the next stage. The third stage is characterised by the fact that you can create several long-term marks at once and quickly move between them. This could become a very useful skill...' - Kai continued to speculate.
Only now he remembered that he would soon be able to try to learn the third stage of the Shadow Mark Dance.
While all this was going on, Kai didn't notice that all the challengers had left the arena. And at that moment, an infuriated guy was heading towards him... It was his opponent!
The Fear Reaper's style was rather peculiar... Right now, he wasn't wearing his Personal Apprentice cape, just black trousers and a bare torso. That said, he still had his name characters on his chest... But only in the form of a tattoo!
The guy had long black hair that was in a rather dishevelled state.
- Why the fuck did you summon me?! Didn't you have anyone else? I was having a good time and didn't want to fight! - Loudly resented the guy.
Only at this moment, Kai finally shifted his gaze to his opponent and assessed his appearance.
The guy's face was also quite peculiar... There were blackish bruises under his eyes. And when he spoke, fangs that were noticeably larger than his other teeth were visible. In a way, he was even attractive.
Also, Kai noticed that his opponent was already holding two large, metre-long sickles in his hands. Although these weapons were more scythe-like in shape than sickle.
- Sorry! I was told that you would be interesting to fight with! Hehehe! - Laughing, Kai replied.
- Let me just swat you and go back! My girls are actually waiting for me! If it wasn't for the rules, I wouldn't have come to this fucking Tournament of Hundred at all. Tsk! - Fear Reaper grumbled.
He really looked very disinterested in this fight. Yes, and it seemed like he didn't take Kai as a serious opponent. His manner of address was rather arrogant.
'It seems like Shuo was right. At this rate, this guy will turn into rubbish...' - Kai thought to himself and immediately activated the Eyes of Essence.
But as soon as he did so, he was dumbfounded for a second! The Fear Reaper's true intentions were revealed to the eye.
'Hehe... And this guy shouldn't be underestimated, I even almost believed him...' - Getting serious, Kai thought to himself ironically.
What he had just seen was amazing... It seemed that the Fear Reaper had used something similar to the Wind Prince's methods. Shuo had said that this was a type of his Manifestation Energy. He was able to envelop objects with his energy. Only with the help of the Eyes of Essence, Kai was able to spot the catch!
He saw small balls fly out from this strange guy's spatial ring and instantly get covered in his energy! And then, travelling very slowly in space so as not to create even a fraction of a whiff of wind... But most importantly, there were already more than ten of them in the area!
Because of this guy's strange attribute, and most likely some special technique, he was making these items invisible! They didn't even create any visual warps in space!
''He started doing this the moment he entered the arena! What is this even about? Is there any point in pretending I don't know about them?' - Quickly, Kai analysed the situation.
At this moment, he instantly drew out his black daggers and released energy outwards!
- Doom! - A small wave of black energy swept across the arena. But from the volume, it was obvious that Kai hadn't used his full power.
Considering the whole situation and the unconventional opponent... It was better to play slowly, placing one card on the table at a time. It's still not clear what to expect from this Fear Reaper.
- That's great! Let's finish quickly! - With an evil smile, the strange guy shouted out and immediately threw his sickles towards Kai.
It had to be said that their speed was indeed terrifying!
Kai didn't hesitate and quickly jumped aside! At the same time, he did his best to dodge all the 'traps' flying in the air.
To begin with, you have to move very believably to make it seem like simple luck. Kai was well aware that this could not go on for long, as his opponent is not an idiot. He would realise that Kai was somehow detecting his artefacts.
As soon as Kai retreated from the line of attack, he immediately felt what Shuo was talking about. The sickles changed trajectory and continued flying after him! With his Essence Eyes, he saw that this one was also manipulating energy. It seemed that the Fear Reaper was indeed very skilled in this matter!
Because of something like this, the battle had turned into a non-stop pursuit of Kai!
- Why isn't the Immortal Drunkard attacking? Don't you think his movements are a bit strange? The Reaper of Fear had thrown out his weapon, why wouldn't the Immortal Drunkard go for a closer approach? - A variety of questions began to ring out from the stands.
But almost instantly, they were answered by the other students, who knew roughly what was going on. It was just that they had either seen this Fear Reaper's fights before, or had simply heard good things about him. Still, this is one of the Top 100 best Personal Apprentices!
- Just look no further. He's not called the Reaper of Fear specifically for nothing. Soon, he will drive the Immortal Drunkard into despair... - Just as one of the spectators was explaining.
At this moment, Kai continued to dodge and observe his opponent with his side vision. More and more similar 'balls' were filling the space around him.
'Damn, he's purposely choosing such sickle flight trajectories to trap me! Besides, these incomprehensible flying artefacts aren't standing still either!' - Quickly thought Kai.
- Bummer! - Suddenly, the Fear Reaper shouted out!
At this moment, one of the sickles changed its trajectory slightly again! But in doing so, it didn't hit Kai, but one of those traps!
- Qin! Ba-baah! - As soon as they made contact, a violent explosion instantly sounded!