Her matter of fact delivery would have previously shaken him but these past few days he had dealt with several blows to his ego that left him largely numb This crazy woman’s swarthy threats didn’t really phase him
As she settled into her repeated rant her fingernails scratched at the railing of the boat while their vessel continued to float unimpeded towards the center of Qtal while he just sighed
A simple two days ago he had been unshaken in his belief that he would change the world Then he had encountered not one not two but 3 individuals who made him feel inferior By the time he had regained consciousness Helen had dragged him off the stage and then used him and other wounded bodies as cover in order to hide herself from the vicious swarm of ravenous insects the Ghosthound had somehow summoned
By sheer luck he had been buried underneath Helen’s other victims and had made it out mostly unscathed Any small joy that he would have felt waking up ontop of such a beautiful woman was swiftly wiped away by the horrifying realization of how many people and how quickly Helen had killed individuals from the surrounding crowd to make a pile of bodies she could hide under
It was likely done in a sneak attack but still If these people were taking part in the qualifier they at least had some accomplishments in the art of the spear That she had casually dealt with so many was unnerving
So he swiftly found himself with 4 individuals who he acknowledged as superior But of course at their head was the Ghosthound
A mage who wielded the spear It was a scary combination There were some people on the planet who chose to become mages but they were mostly in support roles strengthening spear users before and during battles Or they became healers But the offensive powers of the Ghosthound’s skills were no joke They shook the former star disciple of the Iron Spear Style to his core
Then promptly after he had staggered out of the rapidly deserting arena he had been waylaid by his former master Egger who publicly humiliated and denounced him casting him out of the Iron Spear Style for publicly humiliating him and putting on such an embarrassing display as vomiting on his own spear
Adding one last insult on top of the heap balanced on his former disciple’s psyche Egger told him that he could keep the spear after all it had been sullied by his filth
For the first time in 3 years he was Styleless Whereas he had previously seen his path to greatness laid out in front of him now he wavered Without access to the Skill Sets of the Iron Spear style becoming stronger on his own would be extremely difficult
Still although he was lying low currently his pride burned hot and angry in his stomach He would persevere He had sought out that strong adversary who had caused him such a great blow because that was the strength he desired The strength to defy expectations and shock the audience
Although he had currently embraced his identity as the male spear attendant that wasn’t a permanent solution This was just a transition phase If nothing else it was clear that both the Ghosthound and his master were unusually strong He would seize that strength and rise higher than the Iron Spear Style ever could carry him he swore to himself and then he could
Oy you two move aside A cold voice spoke and the two spear attendants jumped Divvit slowly stood cracking his neck It appears we finally have encountered our first guest Now the only thing that remains to be seen is who they are here for
Helen bowed smoothly making the male spear attendant’s face twitch but he controlled it barely That girl certainly switched personas quickly once there was an audience Ahead of them the path through the boats had finally been blocked The boat in front of them was a small one only a raft but a bold bright red Tassle hung above 3 men and a woman
For several minutes the two groups the 3 on the boat with Blue and Emerald 4 on the group below the red Tassle just looked at each other as the two boats drifted closer Slowly the male spear attendant realized that the surrounding boats were filling with shifting crowds whose eyes were locked on the two boats
Neither said anything until the wooden boats rammed into each other with a soft knock
As mine is the larger vessel Divvit said his tone of voice making his superiority clear I suppose the guests may come aboard
The male spear attendant’s face remained curious still but Helen snorted The traditional greeting before a challenge was Honored Guests The fact that Divvit chose not to use it was either a slight a comment on the difference in their social statuses or on the difference in their strength But considering the color of their Tassle it was possible that it was all three
The expressions of the 4 from the smaller boat were stony but they ascended up There was silence on the boat Divvit seemed content to remain still despite the new arrivals
Finally the man who appeared to be the leader among the red Tassle group spoke It is unbecoming They both bear the curse of that man And that color is unbecoming
Divvit remained seated not even opening his eyes
The man’s eyes narrowed If you do not willingly sink your Tassle
Then you will do what Divvit opened his eyes and smiled
Randidly’s chest heaved Mrs Hamilton’s exercises had been designed to allow Randidly to slowly push his body to limits forcing his will to rise to the level that he could fully utilize his physical capabilities
Shal it seemed thought this was a weak and inefficient method
True your stats are higher than your level should possess Shal said standing over Randidly’s bruised and battered body But it has made you bold and shallow You have many flashy moves yes You have a Runic Rarity skillset yes But you do not have the weight of training behind your strikes They are light
This is what you must learn How to face foes who possess that strength Rise and receive my spear
Randidly his arms almost buckling raised himself up He could feel that frosted fire in his chest pulsing slowly If nothing else Second Wind Struggle and Bacterial Regeneration were being well worked even if he barely had enough time to use any active skills against Shal’s assault Because when the attacks came they were too much for Randidly to receive
But he still tried his body slowly regenerating his stance settling down to its normal steadiness Then Shal smiled and disappeared
This was truly the difference in levels His Spear Phantom’s Footwork was at a level where Randidly’s eyes couldn’t keep up By the time he could see where Shal had gone Shal had already attacked This was not a way that Randidly could survive
So instead as soon as Shal disappeared Randidly stepped too heading for the spot Shal had left But immediately the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up and Randidly threw himself to the side stepping with the skill as fast as he could manage it
It was not fast enough and Randidly felt his ribs crack as what could only be a spear but felt like a freight train smashed into his side As he was sent tumbling Randidly couldn’t help think back to his experience all those months ago right at the very beginning knocked so casually aside
But although he wasn’t yet the one knocking another casually aside he was still very different than his previous self
Randidly pirouetted on his toes spinning around to regard his attacker Shal was already raising his spear again unrelenting but not before Randidly lashed out using Ghastly Slash which with the bonus of Haste Empower and Mana Strengthening managed to arrive before Shal’s attack
But Shal’s spear seemed to slither upwards knocking Randidly’s attack off to the side and then instantly lashing out towards Randidly’s stomach
Using Phantom Half Step 3 times in a row Randidly managed to open enough space for the attack to miss but as his eyes tried to find Shal’s figure he realized that he had once more disappeared