Before he could react those spears snapped forward like the jaws of a wolf one ripping a gash in Randidly’s thigh the other digging a deep hole in his shoulder Just as quick they pulled back into that position and then sprung forward that hunger that pervaded his spear style howling wanting more
But Randidly had already activated Phantom Half Step several times in a row during that split second teleporting himself some distance away He had teleported himself so far away that he was off the stage and tumbled into the crowd
His fall knocked some individuals over splattering them with his blood They yelled first in shock and then in anger and regained their feet and rushed towards him spears raised They were like bottom feeders avoiding the strong but content to attack the weak Randidly didn’t spare them a glance instead he was staring at Tartet
After Randidly retreated rapidly backwards Tartet sneered down at him and then turned away With a clear dismissal Tartet walked cautiously towards Dian
The disappointment in Randidly’s chest was hot and fresh and strangely familiar It was the same feeling he had gotten when he had conceded the match against Donnyton’s Classers It was the bitter truth that his spear skills were not enough alone for him to win here Although he truly had some talent when it came to dodging using Spear Phantom’s Footwork his spear work hadn’t come together enough for him to inflict damage with his attacks He simply would walk into traps in that way
The spear users around him surged closer thrusting out with their weapons their faces gleeful and vindictive Still Randidly ignored them his pulse pounding in his ears
He had wanted this to go differently He had wanted his spear arts to slowly grow through battle becoming peerless in a single day Idiocy
His fists clenched This was a lot like the Donnyton challenges all over again but he had been even more harsh on his inclusion of moves Another difference was that when it came down to it The only thing holding him back was his pride not fear of killing So this challenge would turn out very very differently that Randidly swore
With blazing eyes Randidly activated Agony which smashed outward turning those gleeful faces into stunned and stupefied expressions A dozen Phantom Thrusts ripped out killing the briefly stunned spear users around him
Some of the others were able to withstand the pain but they still looked at Randidly with fearful expressions Dropping all pretenses Randidly drew several potions one Health one Mana and three Stamina and drank them all putting him much closer to an optimal condition His flesh slowly closed the bleeding ceasing Blood continued to pound wildly in his ears The Aether in his chest was furiously pulsing now
Fine Randidly growled hopping back up onto the platform Let’s play for keeps
Chapter 132
Tartet slowed his walk and glanced over his shoulder clearly shocked And Randidly noticed the second that Agony’s range extended to the man because his face immediately tightened
You you are a mage Tartet whispered crossing his spears defensively in front of him
Randidly didn’t bother to answer instead just walked forward his spear spinning slowly With the addition of spells Randidly had no doubt that he would be able to handle this challenger and likely all of the bottom feeders surrounding the stage He wondered why he had been too timid to do this in the beginning This sort of power was exactly what the people of this world wanted He should have recognized it from the beginning based upon the strange tradition of Tassles
It was time for this place to bear witness to The Ghosthound
But before Randidly could attack a strange chime rang out filling every corner of the arena Then a voice echoed outward a low calm male voice who seemed almost bored with his words
We have reached the 1 hour threshold for the Qualifier for the Regional Tournament At current 23% of the contestants have been eliminated either by withdrawing or otherwise There was a long moment of silence as the cold voice continued still bored There are currently 21 individuals standing across the 10 stages As a show of their accomplishments their Tassles will be displayed over the stages on which they stand until they are defeated
On cue long poles slid out from the central tower carrying with them a number of Tassles between 1 and 3 The one above Randidly’s stage had 3 His own a rich emerald with gold lettering A disgusting looking yellow Tassle with black letters that belonged to Tartet
But the final Tassle was just as strange and eye catching as Randidly’s it was red violet and the name of the contestant and Style were written in a sickly white After a few seconds to consider the strange concept of Tassles Randidly lowered his gaze his eyes narrowed It was time to fight Tartet was still gazing upwards his eyes shocked and slightly vacant
Randidly glanced around and it seemed like everyone was just shocked by this announcement Was it his emerald causing trouble again Well it didn’t matter He had resolved himself to taking all of the attention so this little extra was nothing
He would blow away all resistance with force
I’ll say this once If you don’t ready yourself I’ll kill you Randidly remarked coldly and Tartet looked down his eyes focusing
Why are you and her together Tartet mumbled but he raised his spears some of his fighting spirit coming back to him Sensing that some of Tartet’s reaction was actually to the other Tassle Dian’s Randidly turned and looked at the girl
And it was a good thing he did The head of a spear flashed in front of him approaching as fast as a biting snake Randidly jerked his head to the side and was able to narrowly escape with a small scratch Growling he hopped backwards but as he made to land his feet wouldn’t obey him and he tumbled onto his back a strange numbness suffusing his body
Perhaps the snake metaphor was too apt Poison
So it was you Randidly could barely raise his head to look but the voice was female and the soft footfalls from the location where Dian had been standing revealed her To think it would end like this die miserably and let this cycle of revenge end forever
Dian raised her hand and flicked her fingers As she did so Randidly finally saw her weapon it seemed to be more whip than spear a long ropey coil that ended in a viciously sharp and poisoned spearhead And at that moment with his body barely responding to his commands the spearhead whistled towards Randidly’s heart
When the Tassles were revealed the area in the viewing tower around Shal fell silent Egger’s expression turned nasty as he saw that only 4 of the stages contained the Tassle of the Iron Spear Style Which even Shal had to admit was something of an accomplishment even if only the non core disciples of the Style were sent out
But as Egger looked out and finally saw the Tassle with the Spear Phantom Style written on it and the Tassle next to it
Vampyrus Took a disciple Egger said gasping
Shal nodded slowly It had been news to him too But none would fake their association with that Style Even before Shal had acted the Spearman School had turned against them
It appears Shal said slowly That the line of Vampyrus the Devourer has not yet ended
It was perhaps fate Shal reflected that he had bet Vampyrus’ spear earlier with Egger A fate that was very heavy and was now on the shoulders of his inexperienced disciple It would be a trial but
No great spear was ever forged without fire
Strangely Shal found himself smiling Even though obtaining information on Lucrecia was riding on his strange disciple that he had found lost and classless in one of the fiercest dungeons near Qtal Even though the Devourer would not lightly take a disciple and it seemed very possible that that small girl was hiding even more secrets on her body
Besides even if Randidly lost Shal wouldn’t lose hope He would kill Egger and force the information he wanted out of him and damn the consequences
So Shal smiled watching the battle below because for the first time in a long time Shal had found what direction he should be heading in