Although Kent's performance had caused a stir among many, the Stormwind Tournament continued in full swing. The event was scheduled to last for three days, and it was nearing noon when the next round of challenges arrived. A long list of names appeared on the electronic screen, with Kent's name prominently featured.
"Kent, it's your turn. Who are you planning to challenge?" Xiao Wei teased with a grin.
Kent stood up with a mysterious smile and replied, "Who would you like it to be?"
Xiao Wei was momentarily speechless but quickly thought of one person—Qin Lei.
Kent walked to the stage, his eyes scanning the crowd, while countless gazes turned toward him.
"Qin Lei, do you remember our duel?" Kent called out in a loud voice.
Qin Lei's expression shifted. Initially, he had intended to teach Kent a lesson, but after witnessing Kent's battle with Zhong Hou, his confidence faltered. Realizing Kent might not be an easy opponent, he hesitated. To his surprise, Kent, who was now the target of public attention, had only been challenged once before.
Each participant had three chances to be challenged, and so far, Zhong Hou had used up one. Most others, who considered themselves on par with or weaker than Zhong Hou, were hesitant to challenge Kent, fearing they would waste their remaining chances.
Although Qin Lei was a second-year student and the son of a wealthy family, with considerable strength and a decent ranking in the Stormwind Tournament, he still worried about Kent's abilities. Despite his good performance in last year's event, where he had ranked over 900th, he didn't feel confident against Kent, who had demonstrated exceptional strength.
But Qin Lei was determined not to back down. Steeling himself, he thought, This guy isn't all that strong. I'll show him who's boss.
He stepped onto the stage, looked at the composed Kent, and sneered. "I didn't expect you to be so patient, but don't think that just because you beat Zhong Hou, you can defeat me."
"I know you're strong, and I saw your ranking in the Stormwind list," Kent replied, shaking his head. "But you're still not my match."
"Kent, don't get too cocky."
"Let's see who's better in battle." Kent glanced at the referee, signaling to start the match.
"Begin!" the referee announced.
Kent summoned Wukong, still a bit casual but taking things more seriously this time, as Qin Lei was no pushover.
Qin Lei summoned his beast, the Thunder Bull, a level 39 creature with formidable power. It charged toward Kent with explosive speed.
Kent narrowed his eyes. After scanning the Thunder Bull's attributes, he noted its three primary abilities: a thunderous roar that could disorient opponents, a wild charge capable of breaking through defenses, and a crushing stomp that could pulverize stone.
It's a shame I can't scan Qin Lei's personal strength, Kent thought. The Beast Evolution System only applies to monsters, not to humans.
Kent knew Qin Lei had trained in combat techniques and was quite skilled at close-quarters fighting. However, Kent was already nearing the strength of a B-grade warrior, while Qin Lei was barely at the D-grade level, which was a significant gap.
"Wukong, deal with the Thunder Bull."
The battle began immediately. Qin Lei controlled the Thunder Bull as it charged toward Kent with the speed of a thunderclap. Wukong skillfully dodged the charge at the last moment, sidestepping and delivering a crushing blow to the Thunder Bull's body. The beast stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
Kent was curious to test his beast's combat abilities, so he didn't intervene directly. As the beast's owner, he shared in its strength, but he wasn't yet powerful enough to take on the Thunder Bull head-on.
The Thunder Bull recovered and let out a mighty roar, shaking the arena. The thunderous sound rattled the minds of the spectators, though the surrounding protective barrier absorbed most of the noise. Still, some onlookers were visibly disturbed.
The sound didn't affect Kent too much, thanks to his rigorous mental training and his spiritual discipline. Similarly, Wukong, being born from stone, was immune to such disruptions.
Qin Lei was disappointed when the Thunder Bull's roar didn't seem to affect Kent. He quickly called forth his second beast, the Eight-Armed Mantis. This beast was a golden-tier, level 42 creature with eight razor-sharp arms, each over two meters long, capable of swift and deadly strikes.
Kent scanned the Mantis's attributes:
Eight-Armed Mantis: Golden-tier, Level 42, abilities: cutting, tearing, flying, etc. Weakness: once controlled, its body becomes fragile.
Kent quickly understood and felt a little more at ease. While the Mantis was fast and deadly, it would struggle against a sturdy tank-like beast.
True to Qin Lei's strategy, he sent the Thunder Bull charging toward Wukong to pin it down while the Eight-Armed Mantis charged at Kent.
"Kent, I didn't expect your beast to be so strong, but I've got one more, so get ready to feel the edge of my blades!" Qin Lei taunted.
Kent remained calm, watching as the Mantis rushed at him, its eight arms flashing like blades. Instead of evading, Kent stepped aside and executed a perfect side kick. With the strength of his enhanced muscles and the power of his innate ability, Kent's kick struck the Mantis, shattering its defense. The Mantis was sent flying backward, its body smashed to the ground, blood flowing freely.
Kent, however, wasn't unscathed. The Mantis's arms had left several deep gashes on his leg, drawing blood. Still, it was a minor injury that would heal with a little medication.
"Qin Lei, is that all you've got? The taste of the blade, huh? It's nothing compared to my defenses. You better surrender now before I bring out my second beast. You won't even have the strength to fight back."
Kent said calmly.