Some of those people they even gave Randidly pause There were definitely opponents here that would give Randidly trouble Their speed and the way they used their spears were imaginative and the fact he could notice these things in just a cursory examination proved that they definitely possessed talent There were even a few individuals that used spells producing spears of earth from the ground to attack other contestants He made a note to avoid them but another part of him began to burn wanting to join the foolish rush seeking a challenge
In addition to obtaining the qualification to go on to the actual tournament Randidly also wanted to test himself here But he forced that instinct to take a back seat for now The battle was 2 hours long there was no need to seek out trouble so quickly Besides things were descending into madness around him as more and more fights broke out by the area around the first couple stages
As Randidly glanced to the side he noticed two contestants separate and slowly catch up to him one coming up on each side He sighed inwardly but made no move to attack them He was already tired of this type of activity
And just like he had predicted they attacked him both launching themselves forward spears darting towards his ribs with a grace that surprised Randidly The speed was almost too much for him to take
But because he knew the attack was probably coming he activated Empower and Haste funneling powering into Footwork of the Spear Phantom With two steps he avoided their blows and appeared behind the first opponent sending a Roundhouse Kick at his back Strangely that man swiveled avoiding the blow and slammed the butt of his spear into Randidly’s surprised face
Grunting Randidly stumbled backwards as the two rushed towards him
Don’t underestimate me The one that Randidly had attempted to kick yelled furiously and Randidly felt an old familiar spark of anger rise within him hungry and vicious He had originally been running without his spear out in order to attract less attention but it appeared that had backfired These people held too much fucking focus on the spear
So Randidly produced his slender spear and immediately stepped with Spear Phantom’s Footwork appearing between the two They responded well raising their spears but the nearest one was no match for the speed of Phantom Thrust It ripped off half of his neck and he fell gurgling to the ground
Roaring the other charged forward but Randidly used a Mana Strengthened Sweep to pick him up and throw him high into the air Due to the angle Randidly had the man spun wildly too and couldn’t regain his composure before he smashed into the ground with a sickening crack Around them other contestants just swerved slightly avoiding the battle but eyeing Randidly with glittering eyes that made him even more annoyed
Stomping over to the man whose throat he ripped out Randidly glared down at him Fine you want to die Wish granted idiot
The man laughed but it really just sounded like more gurgling and said something that incensed Randidly even further Better to die holding a spear than to hide and never advance towards my destiny
In a very anticlimactic way the man’s eyes dulled and his head fell back Extremely human seeming crimson blood flowed out spreading slowly out around the man’s body Randidly spared a glance for the other man who was struggling to move and seemed to be doing nothing other than mewing weakly
Although Randidly had killed many things since the system had come to Earth and watched many more creatures including humans die this moment would stay with him for a long time Part of it was the almost glee with which these people ran towards their fate Part of it was the acknowledgment that his power was legitimate even here at least at this level
Part of it was how red the blood was staining the ground and as the blood drained into the ground Randidly had an abrupt vision of thousands of people coming here to die their blood flowing outward and down through the boats beneath them slowly reaching the water So much blood that the water in the surrounding area would slowly become stained orange an eternal testament to the dried iron pumping out of dying bodies
Randidly didn’t know if this was accurate but the image helped him understand the people of this world and a lot of the things that Shal and Devvit said in passing clicked together in his mind Here following the path of the Spearman towards mastery of the spear and personal power was everything If Randidly wanted to succeed here and bring honor to Shal’s style in order to repay him for all that he had done
There was only one way To display power
His eyes burning with anger Randidly walked forward leaving the other man to die on his own Fine he would smash these idiots apart and teach them to value their own lives
Or they would die fools by his spear Randidly couldn’t care less at this point
Chapter 130
The grand melee was an event that almost all of Qtal came out for and Claptrap was no exception The administrators of the event opened up the general challenge cells and cleared them out so those without the money or status to make it to the central viewing tower could view by running around through the cells
As per the usual the merchants moved as a band heading towards the highest and largest of the cells creating a tightly packed Special Market where each of the merchants brought their most prized wares sold at special prices to those individuals who came up to their shops
For Claptrap’s part he brought several finely made pieces of armor as well as the 3 bracers engraved by the Ghosthound If he could make a sale of these today
Ah Claps my boy you came too Hohoho tis a good thing our stands are so far apart otherwise I would worry about you stealing some of my customers with your big city acumen
His face red Claptrap turned to face the speaker an extremely fat merchant with a well oiled beard who styled himself Uncle Izzie ’ The space behind Uncle Izzie was filled with a varied spread where every item of armor appeared to be a precious treasure that would be the valued possession of the current master of a Style It was infuriating because Uncle Izzie was Claptrap’s main competition and Claptrap hadn’t been able to best him in a single category since he had come to Qtal
Mr Izzat it’s good to see you are doing so well Claptrap said woodenly
Izzat’s eyes narrowed but his smile remained stubbornly in place Hohoho no need to be so formal call me Uncle Izzie everyone does Are your servants coming later bringing your wares Why is it that you only have a small satchel at your side
Claptrap bit his lip One of the things that annoyed him about Izzat is that he insisted on never using an interspatial ring to store his wares but instead paid servants to physically carry around the armor in boxes in a show of wealth The amount of spare coin the man had was maddening
Embarrassed Claptrap turned away leaving Izzat to chuckle at his retreating back
When Claptrap arrived at his space his heart sank further Although he had reserved it so far in advance why was it so small It was the size of a child’s desk and would basically would have enough room for him to display 5 or so pieces of armor with him hunching behind them Worst of all both of the stands on either side of him were large and splendid covered in fine red table clothes and Tassle streamers of varying colors indicating the high support that they had from their customers
Claptrap made a mental note to ask the Ghosthound for a tassle streamer of his just to have something to display It didn’t even matter if it was red it was better to have something than nothing
So Claptrap slowly removed a high quality ivory helmet greaves that sparkled with gold inlay but in fact were not weakened by the use of the metal and the Ghosthound’s 3 low quality dirty and beaten leather bracers and tried to keep a smile on his face for the meandering customers